A Potential Low Cost Remote Sensing Using GPS Derived PWV

TL;DR

This paper explores a low-cost method for remote sensing of atmospheric moisture by deriving Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) from GPS signal delays and compares it with radiosonde data across different elevation angles.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to estimate PWV using GPS signals at various elevation cut-off angles and evaluates its accuracy against traditional radiosonde measurements.

Findings

PWV can be derived from GPS signal delays at elevation angles 5° to 50°.

Correlation between GPS-derived and radiosonde PWV decreases with higher elevation angles.

Seasonal variations influence the relationship between GPS and radiosonde PWV measurements.

Abstract

In this paper, the Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) content of the atmosphere is derived using the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal delays. The PWV values from GPS are calculated at different elevation cut-off angles. It was found that the significant range of elevation cut-off angles is from 5 degrees to 50 degrees. The PWV values calculated from GPS using varying cut-off angles from this range were then compared to the PWV values calculated using the radiosonde data. The correlation coefficient and the Root Mean Square (RMS) error between the GPS and radiosonde derived PWV decreases with the increasing cut-off angle and the distance between the two. The seasonal parameters also effect the relation between the two.