Is the Jason-2 DORIS oscillator also affected by the South Atlantic Anomaly?

We analyzed time series of daily DORIS and GPS station coordinate estimates derived from Precise Point Positioning (PPP). The DORIS coordinates were estimated using Jason-2 precise orbits based on GPS data only, implying that the station positions from the two techniques are expressed in the same GPS-based terrestrial reference frame. Comparisons of 3-D vectors of such co-located stations show systematic biases in position around South America when compared to local geodetic ties. We conclude that these results could be explained by a sensitivity of the Jason-2/DORIS oscillator to radiation when the satellite passes over the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). The effect for Jason-2 manifests mainly as an offset in station coordinates, though there is also evidence of a drift at the start of the mission that diminishes in time. This contrasts with the experience on Jason-1, wherein large, persistent drifts were observed for stations in this same (SAA) region. The spurious drift is much (∼90%) smaller for Jason-2, which may be attributable to the steps taken prior to launch to harden the oscillator. Analysis of DORIS Doppler residuals may indicate some small degradation after 2009 for these stations.