scholarly journals Complementing regional ground GNSS-STEC computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) with ionosonde data assimilation

GPS Solutions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Ssessanga ◽  
Mamoru Yamamoto ◽  
Susumu Saito ◽  
Akinori Saito ◽  
Michi Nishioka

AbstractA near-real-time computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) technique was developed over the East Asian sector to specify the 3-D electron density field. The technique is based on a plethora of Global Navigation Satellite System observables within the region of interest which is bounded horizontally 110°–160°E and 10°–60°N and extending from 80 to 25,000 km in altitude. Prior to deployment, studies validated the CIT results using ionosonde, middle-upper atmosphere radar and occultation data and found the technique to adequately reconstruct the regional ionosphere vertical structure. However, with room for improvement in estimating the peak height and avoiding physically unrealistic negative densities in the final solution, we present preliminary results from a technique that addresses these issues by incorporating CIT results into a data assimilation (DA) technique. The DA technique adds ionosonde bottomside measurements into CIT results, thereby improving the accuracy of the reconstructed bottomside 3-D structure. More specifically, on average CIT NmF2 and hmF2 improve by more than 60%. Further, during analysis, ionospheric electron densities are assumed to be better described by probability log-normal distribution, which introduces the positivity constraint that is mandatory in ionospheric imaging.

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 2404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debao Wen ◽  
Dengkui Mei ◽  
Yanan Du

Ionospheric tomography reconstruction based on global navigation satellite system observations is usually an ill-posed problem. To resolve it, an adaptive smoothness constraint ionospheric tomography algorithm is proposed in this work. The new algorithm performs an adaptive adjustment for the constrained weight coefficients of the tomography system. The computational efficiency and the reconstructed quality of ionospheric imaging are improved by using the new algorithm. A numerical simulation experiment was conducted in order to validate the feasibility and superiority of the algorithm. The statistical results of the reconstructed errors and the comparisons of ionospheric profiles confirmed the superiority of the new algorithm. Finally, the new algorithm was successfully applied to reconstruct three-dimensional ionospheric images under geomagnetic quiet and geomagnetic disturbance conditions over Hunan province. The tomographic results are reasonable and consistent with the general behavior of the ionosphere. The positive and negative phase storm effects are found during geomagnetic storm occurrence.


Author(s):  
Magnus Lindskog ◽  
Adam Dybbroe ◽  
Roger Randriamampianina

AbstractMetCoOp is a Nordic collaboration on operational Numerical Weather Prediction based on a common limited-area km-scale ensemble system. The initial states are produced using a 3-dimensional variational data assimilation scheme utilizing a large amount of observations from conventional in-situ measurements, weather radars, global navigation satellite system, advanced scatterometer data and satellite radiances from various satellite platforms. A version of the forecasting system which is aimed for future operations has been prepared for an enhanced assimilation of microwave radiances. This enhanced data assimilation system will use radiances from the Microwave Humidity Sounder, the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A and the Micro-Wave Humidity Sounder-2 instruments on-board the Metop-C and Fengyun-3 C/D polar orbiting satellites. The implementation process includes channel selection, set-up of an adaptive bias correction procedure, and careful monitoring of data usage and quality control of observations. The benefit of the additional microwave observations in terms of data coverage and impact on analyses, as derived using the degree of freedom of signal approach, is demonstrated. A positive impact on forecast quality is shown, and the effect on the precipitation for a case study is examined. Finally, the role of enhanced data assimilation techniques and adaptions towards nowcasting are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 394
Author(s):  
John Le Marshall ◽  
Robert Norman ◽  
David Howard ◽  
Susan Rennie ◽  
Michael Moore ◽  
...  

The use of high spatial and temporal resolution data assimilation and forecasting around Australia’s capital cities and rural land provided an opportunity to improve moisture analysis and forecasting. To support this endeavour, RMIT University and Geoscience Australia worked with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) to provide real-time GNSS (global navigation satellite system) zenith total delay (ZTD) data over the Australian region, from which a high-resolution total water vapour field for SE Australia could be determined. The ZTD data could play an important role in high-resolution data assimilation by providing mesoscale moisture data coverage from existing GNSS surface stations over significant areas of the Australian continent. The data were used by the BoM’s high-resolution ACCESS-C3 capital city numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems, the ACCESS-G3 Global system and had been used by the ACCESS-R2-Regional NWP model. A description of the data collection and analysis system is provided. An example of the application of these local GNSS data for a heavy rainfall event over SE Australia/Victoria is shown using the 1.5-km resolution ACCESS-C3 model, which was being prepared for operational use. The results from the test were assessed qualitatively, synoptically and also examined quantitatively using the Fractions Skills Score which showed the reasonableness of the forecasts and demonstrated the potential for improving rainfall forecasts over south-eastern Australia by the inclusion of ZTD data in constructing the moisture field. These data have been accepted for operational use in NWP.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1483-1493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihua Bai ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Yueqiang Sun ◽  
Jiankui Shi ◽  
Guanglin Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract. The rapid advancement of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) occultation technology in recent years has made it one of the most advanced space-based remote sensing technologies of the 21st century. GNSS radio occultation has many advantages, including all-weather operation, global coverage, high vertical resolution, high precision, long-term stability, and self-calibration. Data products from GNSS occultation sounding can greatly enhance ionospheric observations and contribute to space weather monitoring, forecasting, modeling, and research. In this study, GNSS occultation sounder (GNOS) results from a radio occultation sounding payload aboard the Fengyun 3 C (FY3-C) satellite were compared with ground-based ionosonde observations. Correlation coefficients for peak electron density (NmF2) derived from GNOS Global Position System (GPS) and Beidou navigation system (BDS) products with ionosonde data were higher than 0.9, and standard deviations were less than 20 %. Global ionospheric effects of the strong magnetic storm event in March 2015 were analyzed using GNOS results supported by ionosonde observations. The magnetic storm caused a significant disturbance in NmF2 level. Suppressed daytime and nighttime NmF2 levels indicated mainly negative storm conditions. In two longitude section zones of geomagnetic inclination between 40 and 80∘, the results of average NmF2 observed by GNOS and ground-based ionosondes showed the same basic trends during the geomagnetic storm and confirmed the negative effect of this storm event on the ionosphere. The analysis demonstrates the reliability of the GNSS radio occultation sounding instrument GNOS aboard the FY3-C satellite and confirms the utility of ionosphere products from GNOS for statistical and event-specific ionospheric physical analyses. Future FY3 series satellites and increasing numbers of Beidou navigation satellites will provide increasing GNOS occultation data on the ionosphere, which will contribute to ionosphere research and forecasting applications.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingyun Yan ◽  
Weimin Huang

A new method for simulating Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) delay-Doppler maps (DDMs) of a tsunami-dominant sea surface is presented. In this method, the bistatic scattering Z-V model, the sea surface mean square slope model of Cox and Munk, and the tsunami-induced wind perturbation model are employed. The feasibility of the Cox and Munk model under a tsunami scenario is examined by comparing the Cox and Munk model based scattering coefficient with the Jason-1 measurement. A good consistency between these two results is obtained with a correlation coefficient of 0.93. After confirming the applicability of the Cox and Munk model for a tsunami-dominated sea, this study provides the simulations of the scattering coefficient distribution and the corresponding DDMs of a fixed region of interest before and during the tsunami. In the final analysis, by subtracting the simulation results that are free of tsunami from those with presence of tsunami, the tsunami-induced variations in scattering coefficients and DDMs can be clearly observed. As a result, the tsunami passage can be readily interpreted.


2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (7) ◽  
pp. 2221-2236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bachir Annane ◽  
Brian McNoldy ◽  
S. Mark Leidner ◽  
Ross Hoffman ◽  
Robert Atlas ◽  
...  

Abstract In preparation for the launch of the NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), a variety of observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) were conducted to develop, tune, and assess methods of assimilating these novel observations of ocean surface winds. From a highly detailed and realistic hurricane nature run (NR), CYGNSS winds were simulated with error characteristics that are expected to occur in reality. The OSSE system makes use of NOAA’s HWRF Model and GSI data assimilation system in a configuration that was operational in 2012. CYGNSS winds were assimilated as scalar wind speeds and as wind vectors determined by a variational analysis method (VAM). Both forms of wind information had positive impacts on the short-term HWRF forecasts, as shown by key storm and domain metrics. Data assimilation cycle intervals of 1, 3, and 6 h were tested, and the 3-h impacts were consistently best. One-day forecasts from CYGNSS VAM vector winds were the most dynamically consistent with the NR. The OSSEs have a number of limitations; the most noteworthy is that this is a case study, and static background error covariances were used.


2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Haishen Wang ◽  
Yubao Liu ◽  
Yuewei Liu ◽  
Yunchang Cao ◽  
Hong Liang ◽  
...  

Precipitable water vapor (PWV) retrieved from ground-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) stations acquisition signal of a navigation satellite system provides high spatial and temporal resolution atmospheric water vapor. In this paper, an observation-nudging-based real-time four-dimensional data assimilation (RTFDDA) approach was used to assimilate the PWV estimated from GNSS observation into the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) modeling system. A landfall typhoon, “Mangkhut”, is chosen to evaluate the impact of GNSS PWV data assimilation on its track, intensity, and precipitation prediction. The results show that RTFDDA can assimilate GNSS PWV data into WRF to improve the water vapor distribution associated with the typhoon. Assimilating the GNSS PWV improved the typhoon track and intensity prediction when and after the typhoon made landfall, correcting a 5–10 hPa overestimation (too deep) of the central pressure of the typhoon at landfall. It also improved the occurrence and the intensity of the major typhoon spiral rainbands.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Le Marshall ◽  
Robert Norman ◽  
David Howard ◽  
Susan Rennie ◽  
Michael Moore ◽  
...  

The use of high spatial and temporal resolution data assimilation and forecasting around Australia’s capital cities and rural land provided an opportunity to improve moisture analysis and forecasting. To support this endeavour, RMIT University and Geoscience Australia worked with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) to provide real-time GNSS (global navigation satellite system) zenith total delay (ZTD) data over the Australian region, from which a high-resolution total water vapour field for SE Australia could be determined. The ZTD data could play an important role in high-resolution data assimilation by providing mesoscale moisture data coverage from existing GNSS surface stations over significant areas of the Australian continent. The data were used by the BoM’s high-resolution ACCESS-C3 capital city numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems, the ACCESS-G3 Global system and had been used by the ACCESS-R2-Regional NWP model. A description of the data collection and analysis system is provided. An example of the application of these local GNSS data for a heavy rainfall event over SE Australia/Victoria is shown using the 1.5-km resolution ACCESS-C3 model, which was being prepared for operational use. The results from the test were assessed qualitatively, synoptically and also examined quantitatively using the Fractions Skills Score which showed the reasonableness of the forecasts and demonstrated the potential for improving rainfall forecasts over south-eastern Australia by the inclusion of ZTD data in constructing the moisture field. These data have been accepted for operational use in NWP.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihua Bai ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Yueqiang Sun ◽  
Jiankui Shi ◽  
Xiangguang Meng ◽  
...  

Abstract. The rapid advancement of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) occultation technology in recent years has made it one of the most advanced space detection technologies of the 21st century. GNSS radio occultation has many advantages, including all-weather operation, global coverage, high vertical resolution, high precision, long-term stability, and self-calibration. Data products from GNSS occultation sounding can greatly enhance ionospheric observations and contribute to space weather monitoring, forecasting, modeling, and research. In this study, GNSS occultation sounder (GNOS) results from a radio occultation sounding payload aboard the Fengyun 3-C (FY3-C) satellite were compared with ground-based ionosonde observations. Correlation coefficients for peak electron density (NmF2) derived from GNOS Global Position System (GPS) and Beidou navigation system (BDS) products with ionosonde data were higher than 0.9, and standard deviations were less than 20 %. Global ionospheric effects of the strong magnetic storm event in March 2015 were analyzed using GNOS results supported by ionosonde observations. The magnetic storm caused a significant disturbance in NmF2 and hmF2 levels. Suppressed daytime and nighttime NmF2 levels indicated mainly negative storm conditions. In the zone of geomagnetic inclination between 40–80 °, average NmF2 during the geomagnetic storm showed the same basic trends in GNOS measurements, and in observations from 17 ground-based ionosonde stations, and confirmed the negative effect of the event on the ionosphere. The analysis demonstrates the reliability of the GNSS radio occultation sounding instrument GNOS aboard the FY3-C satellite, and confirms the utility of ionosphere products from GNOS for statistical and event-specific ionospheric physical analyses. Future FY3 series satellites, and increasing numbers of Beidou navigation satellites, will provide increasing GNOS occultation data on the ionosphere, which will contribute to ionosphere research and forecasting applications.


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