Automatic data acquisition system and reconstruction algorithm for computerized ionospheric tomography

Abstract

The design and operation features of the automatic data acquisition system for the low-latitude ionospheric tomography along the 120°E meridian are presented. The system, automatically collects the differential Doppler phase data, and GPS satellite beacon signal is simultaneously collected to achieve time synchronization of all recelvers in whole station-chain. An improved reconstruction algorithm of computerized ionospheric tomography is also proposed, in which calculating of the integral phase constant and choosing of the initial guess are integrated in the procedure of reconstruction and evaluated by the reconstructed image. Both numerical simulation examples and reconstructed results from observed data show that the new algorithm works reasonably and effectively with ionospheric CT problems.