What environmental factor can degrade GPS signals?

What environmental factor can degrade GPS signals?

• A. Solar activity
• B. Cloud cover
• C. Wind
• D. Radio interference

Answer: (A)

Solar activity disturbs the ionosphere, the layer of charged particles GPS signals travel through. When solar activity is high—due to solar flares and geomagnetic storms—the electron content in the ionosphere increases and becomes highly irregular. This changes the speed and path of the radio waves, introducing delays and phase errors in the receivers’ measurements and can cause rapid fluctuations known as scintillation, sometimes causing a loss of lock on satellites. Cloud cover and wind don’t significantly affect L-band GPS signals, and while radio interference can disrupt reception, the dominant environmental factor that degrades GPS signals is the solar-driven ionospheric disturbance.

Solar activity disturbs the ionosphere, the layer of charged particles GPS signals travel through. When solar activity is high—due to solar flares and geomagnetic storms—the electron content in the ionosphere increases and becomes highly irregular. This changes the speed and path of the radio waves, introducing delays and phase errors in the receivers’ measurements and can cause rapid fluctuations known as scintillation, sometimes causing a loss of lock on satellites. Cloud cover and wind don’t significantly affect L-band GPS signals, and while radio interference can disrupt reception, the dominant environmental factor that degrades GPS signals is the solar-driven ionospheric disturbance.