Eyjafjallajokull Volcanic Ash 2010 Effects on GPS Positioning Performance in the Adriatic Sea Region

The Eyjafjallajokull volcanic ash crisis in 2010 temporarily suspended European air traffic operations, as the 39-day eruption caused widely dispersed ashes to enter the lower atmosphere. In this paper, we assessed the effects of this event on the ionosphere layer and, consequently, on GPS positioning. We collected and analysed the data from four IGS stations, nearest to the volcano, for the month of April 2010. We recorded Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) time series, analysed their dynamics, and compared them with the GPS positioning errors of a commercial-grade, un-aided, single-frequency GPS receiver (simulating the response of a mass-market GPS receiver). The geomagnetic indices during the time period show little geomagnetic disturbance, especially during the volcanic event. Our results show an enhancement in ionosphere error by up to 15% during the volcanic ash event and an enhanced variance in GPS position components errors. This study reveals the potential impact of the charged volcanic ash on single-frequency, unaided GPS positioning accuracy in the Adriatic Sea region and establishes a foundation for studying similar events in future.

Automated summary

This study assessed the effects of the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic ash crisis in 2010 on the ionosphere and GPS positioning. By analyzing data and comparing GPS positioning errors, it was found that the volcanic ash event led to a 15% increase in ionosphere error and an increased variance in GPS position errors. This study revealed the potential impact of volcanic ash on GPS positioning accuracy and established a foundation for studying similar events in the future.