Open AccessGNSS Precipitable Water Vapor from an Amazonian Rain Forest Flux Tower
Author(s) -
D. K. Adams,
Rui Fernandes,
Jair Max Furtunato Maia
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.774
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1520-0426
pISSN - 0739-0572
DOI - 10.1175/jtech-d-11-00082.1
Subject(s) - mesoscale meteorology , precipitable water , gnss applications , environmental science , water vapor , meteorology , geodetic datum , satellite , global positioning system , remote sensing , geology , geodesy , geography , computer science , physics , astronomy , telecommunications
Understanding the complex interactions between water vapor fields and deep convection on the mesoscale requires observational networks with high spatial (kilometers) and temporal (minutes) resolution. In the equatorial tropics, where deep convection dominates the vertical distribution of the most important greenhouse substance—water—these mesoscale networks are nonexistent. Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) meteorological networks offer high temporal/spatial resolution precipitable water vapor, but infrastructure exigencies are great. The authors report here on very accurate precipitable water vapor (PWV) values calculated from a GNSS receiver installed on a highly nonideal Amazon rain forest flux tower. Further experiments with a mechanically oscillating platform demonstrate that errors and biases of approximately 1 mm (2%–3% of PWV) can be expected when compared with a stable reference GNSS receiver for two different geodetic grade receivers/antennas and processing methods [GPS-Inferred Positioning System (GIPSY) and GAMIT]. The implication is that stable fixed antennas are unnecessary for accurate calculation of precipitable water vapor regardless of processing techniques or geodetic grade receiver.