What is the impact of a GNSS carrier-phase cycle slip on data processing?

• A. The ambiguity resolution continues without interruption.
• B. The ambiguity resolution is interrupted.
• C. The measurement becomes more accurate.
• D. There is no impact.

Answer: (C)

A cycle slip breaks the continuity of the carrier-phase measurements by introducing an unknown integer offset in the phase. Since carrier-phase ambiguity resolution depends on linking phase observations over time to resolve the exact number of cycles, losing phase continuity means the previous ambiguity estimate can no longer be trusted. The processing must re-establish the integer ambiguities once lock is regained, or treat the affected data as needing reinitialization. This interruption prevents continuing accurate ambiguity resolution across the slip and typically causes a temporary drop in precision or data gaps. The measurement itself isn’t improved by a slip; it undermines the phase continuity that underpins the high-precision solution, so the best description is that ambiguity resolution is interrupted.