Real‐Time Sensing of Precipitable Water Vapor From BeiDou Observations: Hong Kong and CMONOC Networks

Abstract

AbstractThe development of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) provides opportunities for real‐time retrieval of precipitable water vapor (PWV), which is expected to significantly contribute to time‐critical meteorological applications. In this study, observations from 17 stations of the Hong Kong Continuously Operating Reference Stations and 15 stations of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) are used to retrieve PWV based on the real‐time precise point positioning ambiguity resolution approach. Real‐time PWV products, retrieved from BDS observations of both summer (day of year 183–192) and winter (day of year 024–033) periods, are analyzed and validated using postprocessed Global Positioning System products. The results show that the real‐time BDS PWV series agree well with the Global Positioning System PWV series. Root‐mean‐square values for the Hong Kong Continuously Operating Reference Stations and CMONOC stations are 2.0–3.5 and 2.5–4.0 mm, respectively. In addition, short initialization time, strong reliability, and good distribution could be achieved by applying the fixed solution instead of the float solution. With the gradual completion of BDS constellation, the BDS can independently contribute to real‐time sensing of PWV and potentially contribute to time‐critical meteorological applications.