Open AccessGPS radio occupations coming of age: Spacecraft launches add two new instruments for climate monitoring
Author(s) -
Hajj G. A.,
Torre Juárez M.,
Iijima B. A.,
Mannucci A. J.,
Yunck T. P.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2002eo000028
Subject(s) - global positioning system , remote sensing , environmental science , geopotential height , spacecraft , meteorology , radio occultation , atmosphere (unit) , geodesy , geology , computer science , aerospace engineering , geography , telecommunications , engineering , precipitation
Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultations are active limb soundings that measure the time delay of a GPS signal propagating through the atmosphere. This time delay can be related to vertical profiles of atmospheric refractivity from which highly accurate profiles of geopotential height, temperature, pressure, and specific humidity are derived. With their global coverage, self‐calibrating nature, penetration through clouds, and high vertical resolution, atmospheric radio occultations are coming of age and hold great promise for weather prediction and climate monitoring.