The Remote Monitoring of Earth’s Atmosphere Based on Operative Processing GNSS Data in the UA-EUPOS/ZAKPOS Network of Active Reference Stations

Nataliya Kablak,Corina Rădulescu,Oleksandr Reity,Adrian Rădulescu,Ovidiu Ştefan

doi:10.3390/su8040391

Nataliya Kablak, Corina Rădulescu + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su8040391

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Apr 20, 2016
Citations: 12	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Technical University of Cluj-Napoca

Abstract

The system of remote monitoring of atmosphere is designed to obtain information about the state of atmosphere. The principle of the remote monitoring of atmosphere is based on registering and processing GLONASS/GPS radio signals. Modern networks of active reference stations allow us to solve both practical problems of geodesy, navigation, and purely scientific problems that are important in all geosciences. The paper investigates a spatiotemporal instability in the atmosphere, based on 845 temporal measurements of tropospheric delay over the territory covered by 20 active reference stations of the UA-EUPOS/ZAKPOS network. The method elaborated by the authors for the determination of tropospheric delay in the UA-EUPOS/ZAKPOS network in real time takes relief of the region into account. The results are very good, since mapping tropospheric delay can be made with an average RMSE of 1.5 mm. The method developed in this research can be used to improve the quality of weather forecasts and the prevention of natural disasters.

Highlights

With the development of technical capabilities of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) measurements and improvement of accuracy of coordinate determination, GNSS observations become more and more applicable in other branches of science: meteorology, atmospheric physics, aviation, etc.The operation principle of the remote monitoring of the atmosphere is based on registering and processing radio signals of GNSS
Due to a strong correlation between water vapour in the atmosphere and the tropospheric delay of GNSS-signal propagation, one can estimate the IPWV (Integrated Precipitable Water Vapour) in the atmosphere based on GNSS measurements [1]
In UA-EUPOS/ZAKPOS network of active reference stations data from 90 GNSS stations located in the Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova are processed [5]

Summary

Introduction

The operation principle of the remote monitoring of the atmosphere is based on registering and processing radio signals of GNSS. A propagation of radio signals from navigation satellites to ground receivers through the atmosphere is accompanied by a propagation rate decrease. This is due to the presence of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide molecules, and water vapour in the atmosphere. Measurements of an additional delay of signal passing in the atmosphere provide information on the integrated properties of the atmosphere along the propagation path of signal. When processing observational data from space vehicles, one can get additional information in the form of files of radio signal atmospheric delays that are registered by GNSS receivers. Due to a strong correlation between water vapour in the atmosphere and the tropospheric delay of GNSS-signal propagation, one can estimate the IPWV (Integrated Precipitable Water Vapour) in the atmosphere based on GNSS measurements [1]

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