Multi-technique comparisons of 10 years of wet delay estimates on the west coast of Sweden

We present comparisons of 10-year-long time series of the atmospheric zenith wet delay (ZWD), estimated using the global positioning system (GPS), geodetic very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), a water vapour radiometer (WVR), radiosonde (RS) observations, and the reanalysis product of the European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). To compare the data sets with each other, a Gaussian filter is applied. The results from 10 GPS–RS comparisons using sites in Sweden and Finland show that the full width at half maximum at which the standard deviation (SD) is a minimum increases with the distance between each pair. Comparisons between three co-located techniques (GPS, VLBI, and WVR) result in mean values of the ZWD differences at a level of a few millimetres and SD of less than 7 mm. The best agreement is seen in the GPS–VLBI comparison with a mean difference of −3.4 mm and an SD of 5.1 mm over the 10-year period. With respect to the ZWD derived from other techniques, a positive bias of up to ∼7 mm is obtained for the ECMWF reanalysis product. Performing the comparisons on a monthly basis, we find that the SD including RS or ECMWF varies with the season, between 3 and 15 mm. The monthly SD between GPS and WVR does not have a seasonal signature and varies from 3 to 7 mm

Multi-technique comparisons of 10 years of wet delay estimates on the west coast of Sweden

We present comparisons of 10-year-long time series of the atmospheric zenith wet delay (ZWD), estimated using the global positioning system (GPS), geodetic very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), a water vapour radiometer (WVR), radiosonde (RS) observations, and the reanalysis product of the European Centre for Medium- Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). To compare the data sets with each other, a Gaussian filter is applied. The results from 10 GPS–RS comparisons using sites in Sweden and Finland show that the full width at half maximum at which the standard deviation (SD) is a minimum increases with the distance between each pair. Comparisons between three co-located techniques (GPS, VLBI, and WVR) result in mean values of the ZWD differences at a level of a few millimetres and SD of less than 7 mm. The best agreement is seen in the GPS–VLBI comparison with a mean difference of −3.4 mm and an SD of 5.1 mm over the 10-year period. With respect to the ZWD derived from other techniques, a positive bias of up to ∼7 mm is obtained for the ECMWF reanalysis product. Performing the comparisons on a monthly basis, we find that the SD including RS or ECMWF varies with the season, between 3 and 15 mm. The monthly SD between GPS and WVR does not have a seasonal signature and varies from 3 to 7 mm

Atmospheric Water Vapor Content Inferred From GPS Data and Compared to a Global NWP Model and a Regional Climate Model

Radio based space geodetic methods are affected by the water vapor in the atmosphere.The velocity of the propagating signal is reduced, depending on the value of the refractiveindex. The atmospheric water vapor content, sometimes also called Integrated WaterVapor (IWV), can be inferred from the estimated propagation delay, or the excess propagationpath often expressed in units of length. The observations are relative measurementsof time, which makes the methods interesting from a calibration point of view - since timeis the physical parameter that we can measure with the highest accuracy.Since water vapor is difficult, and costly, to measure with a high temporal and spatialresolution, given its characteristics of variability, researchers in the atmospheric scienceshave shown interest in using data from already existing ground-based continuously operatingGPS receivers. Time series of the IWV from specific sites are now longer than tenyears. For example, 20 sites in the Swedish GPS network have produced continuous datasince 1993/1994. In addition to GPS also additional global navigational satellite systems(GNSS), such as the European Galileo and the finalization of the Russian GLONASS, willin the future significantly improve the spatial sampling of the atmosphere, and also reducethe relative influence of orbit errors for individual satellites.We have analyzed ground-based GPS data acquired in Europe and Africa over the period2001-2006. IWV results from the GPS data analysis are compared to the global NumericalWeather Prediction (NWP) models from the European Center for Medium RangeWeatherForecasting (ECMWF) as well as the regional climate model of the Rossby Center.The overall goal for the possible use of GNSS data in climate research is to determine towhich extent these independent data can be used to discriminate between different climatemodels - both in terms of absolute values as well as long term trends - thereby improvingthe quality of the models and increasing the probability to produce realistic scenarios ofthe future climate

Atmospheric Water Vapor Content Inferred From GPS Data and Compared to a Global NWP Model and a Regional Climate Model

Radio based space geodetic methods are affected by the water vapor in the atmosphere.The velocity of the propagating signal is reduced, depending on the value of the refractiveindex. The atmospheric water vapor content, sometimes also called Integrated WaterVapor (IWV), can be inferred from the estimated propagation delay, or the excess propagationpath often expressed in units of length. The observations are relative measurementsof time, which makes the methods interesting from a calibration point of view - since timeis the physical parameter that we can measure with the highest accuracy.Since water vapor is difficult, and costly, to measure with a high temporal and spatialresolution, given its characteristics of variability, researchers in the atmospheric scienceshave shown interest in using data from already existing ground-based continuously operatingGPS receivers. Time series of the IWV from specific sites are now longer than tenyears. For example, 20 sites in the Swedish GPS network have produced continuous datasince 1993/1994. In addition to GPS also additional global navigational satellite systems(GNSS), such as the European Galileo and the finalization of the Russian GLONASS, willin the future significantly improve the spatial sampling of the atmosphere, and also reducethe relative influence of orbit errors for individual satellites.We have analyzed ground-based GPS data acquired in Europe and Africa over the period2001-2006. IWV results from the GPS data analysis are compared to the global NumericalWeather Prediction (NWP) models from the European Center for Medium RangeWeatherForecasting (ECMWF) as well as the regional climate model of the Rossby Center.The overall goal for the possible use of GNSS data in climate research is to determine towhich extent these independent data can be used to discriminate between different climatemodels - both in terms of absolute values as well as long term trends - thereby improvingthe quality of the models and increasing the probability to produce realistic scenarios ofthe future climate

National Status Reports

In this section a summary of the national progress reports is given. GNSS4SWEC Management Committee (MC) members provided outline of the work conducted in their countries combining input from different partners involved. In the COST Action paticipated member from 32 COST countries, 1 Near Neighbour Country and 8 Intrantional Partners from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and USA. The text reflects the state as of 1 January 2018