Which environmental factor affects the reception of GNSS satellite data?

The environmental factor that affects the reception of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellite data is sun spot activity. Sun spots are related to solar activity and can cause fluctuations in the solar wind, which impacts the Earth's magnetosphere. This increased solar activity can lead to a higher incidence of ionospheric disturbances that affect the signals transmitted by GNSS satellites. These disturbances may cause delays or signal degradation in the GNSS signals received by a positioning system.

While ocean current speed, temperature fluctuations, and atmospheric pressure can influence many aspects of maritime operations and navigation, they do not directly affect the reception of GNSS satellite signals. These factors are more relevant to vessel movement and environmental conditions rather than the satellite signal integrity and accuracy. In contrast, sun spot activity directly correlates with variations in the ionosphere, which can significantly impact the precision of satellite navigation systems.