Satellites trace GNSS radio disruptions to plasma hotspots in space

Eos Earth and Space Science reported that researchers used a combination of satellites and ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System, or GNSS, receivers to identify the source of radio signal disruptions. The disruptions, known as scintillation, were linked to a hotspot of plasma located approximately 60,000 kilometers away from Earth. [1]

Radio signal scintillation occurs when small-scale structures in electron density, known as ionospheric irregularities, develop in the ionosphere down to meter spatial scales. According to Eos, these structures cause refractive and diffractive variations in the amplitude or phase of radio signals. These fluctuations can severely disrupt transmissions, affecting satellite communication and navigation systems like GNSS. [1]

The researchers identified hot flow anomalies, or HFAs, as the cause of these disruptions. As Eos reported, hot flow anomalies are short-lived flows of hot plasma that form near the bow shock of Earth, which is the region where supersonic plasma creates shock waves. [1]

In physics, charged particles are entities that carry an electric charge. These include elementary particles such as electrons, composite particles such as protons, and ions, which are atoms or molecules with an imbalance of electrons relative to protons. [4]