Performance of GPS single frequency standard point positioning in China during the main phase of different classified geomagnetic storms

Geomagnetic storms can induce different levels of ionospheric disturbance, which can make prominent impacts on the performance of GNSS applications. In this study, the influence on the accuracy of GPS single frequency standard point positioning (SPP) in China (geomagnetic low and middle latitudes) during the main phase of different classified geomagnetic storms was comprehensively investigated with requirements of GNSS system application. The results demonstrated that the probability of the extrema in positioning errors was positively correlated with the level of geomagnetic storms. That is correlative with the latitude of stations (lower latitudes is generally higher than for higher latitudes) as well. The influence on the positioning errors in U (vertical) directions was evidently stronger than in other directions. In addition, the positioning errors could be influenced noticeably during the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms. The finding in this study could provide a reference to the performance of GNSS applications, the performance of applications and related improvements of Beidou global navigation satellite system (BDS-3) and the study of ionospheric disturbance attributes in China (geomagnetic low and middle latitudes) region during geomagnetic storms.