Web Based Automated Total Electron Content Computation

Total Electron Content (TEC), is widely used in monitoring ionospheric effects. TEC is expressed as the amount of free electrons within 1 m2 cross-sectional area of the region between ground and ionosphere. Although IRI and IGS analysis centers can generate and present TEC estimations, either the temporal resolution is low or estimations are based on empirical data. IONOLAB (www.ionolab.org) method provides robust estimations with high temporal resolution. In this study, TEC estimations by IONOLAB are presented by an easily accessible, user friendly interface. Developed application makes TEC estimation for given GPS station and time period. User input required is minimal. Observation data needed for estimation is retrieved from IGS data centers in RINEX format. Hardware biases are automatically downloaded from CODE. Developed application is the first one that provides TEC estimations with a temporal resolution of 30 s. Web based IONOLAB is an easily accessible system that requires no installation on the client side. The application has a layered design. By means of this modular design, possible changes regarding the estimation method can be easily adapted. Same flexibility is also provided for the data access. The presentation of estimation data is architected to support different client types. Estimation data can be presented in different output media.