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Abstract

European Incoherent SCATer (EISCAT) radar in Svalbard (ESR) in conjunction with GNSS scintillation measurements are used to identify the source region of irregularities causing phase scintillation in GNSS signals in the dayside auroral regions. This was investigated using measurements collected by the steerable 32-m ESR from the dayside auroral/cusp regions during the morning hours when the radar was roughly under the cusp. The ESR when operated under the fast-scanning mode is capable of scanning through large areas of the ionosphere by turning its dish antenna rapidly thereby capturing ionospheric phenomenon over a wide range of geographic latitudes. The scintillation measurements were obtained from a nearby GNSS receiver stationed at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory (KHO). A methodology was developed to conduct precise conjunction measurements between the radar and satellite line of sight signals to identify the ionospheric source regions and the associated conditions responsible for GNSS scintillation at the dayside auroral/cusp region. Data from measurement campaigns during the winter months of 2014-2015 were used to build the statistics and the analysis showed that phase scintillation exceeding 0.1 rad in GNSS signals at the dayside auroral/cusp region was predominantly caused by irregularities existing in the F region. The associated ionospheric conditions during scintillation as captured by the ion, electron temperatures and densities are placed in the context of precipitation, strong flows and patches. The results are compared with the nighttime statistics when patches and auroral dynamics are responsible for strongest scintillation in GNSS signals.