The Global Positioning System (GPS) transmits signals in two frequencies which allow to correct for the first order ionospheric effects through theionosphere free combination. However, the second and third order ionospheric effects which cause error of the order of centimeters in the GPS measurements, still remain. These effects are, generally, neglected in the GPS data processing. The first, second and third order ionospheric effects are directly proportional to the TEC (Total Electron Content) in the ionosphere, but, in the case of the second and third order effects the Earth magnetic field and the maximum electron density respectively, also make a contribution. This paper investigates these two higher order ionospheric effects which were taken into account in the GPS data processing in the Brazilian region. The mathematical model associated with these effects will be presented, as well as the transformations involving the Earth magnetic field and the use of the TEC from Global Ionospheric Maps or calculated from GPS pseudorange measurements. The GPS data was processed in static and kinematic relative mode and in a precise point positioning (PPP) approach. The second and third order effects were analyzed considering periods with low and high ionospheric activities. The results have shown that neglecting these effects in the precise point positioning and in the relative positioning for long baselines can cause variation of the order of few millimeters in thestations coordinates, besides diurnal variations in altitude of the order of centimeters.
Geodesy; GPS positioning; second and third order ionospheric effects
