Methodology for estimating the parameters of wave processes in the troposphere using the data of a network of GNSS stations

Abstract

In the troposphere, accounting for synoptic variations in meteorological elements is an important part of weather forecasting. In connection with the above, an urgent task is to develop a technique for studying the characteristics of synoptic oscillations of high modes in the troposphere. The paper presents a technique for studying wave processes based on data from sounding of the troposphere with GNSS radio signals at spatially separated points. Among all the technologies for sounding the lower atmosphere, the use of signals from satellite navigation systems has a number of advantages. These include the possibility of continuous daily monitoring, high time resolution of measurement data, as well as the relative cheapness of receiving equipment. It is shown that by analyzing the amplitude and phase wavelet spectrum, it is possible to single out quasi-periodic synoptic variations in the zenith tropospheric delay of radio waves, to study their time and horizontal scales, and phase velocities. The technique has been tested on a network of GNSS receivers in the Republic of Tatarstan. Empirical distributions of spatial parameters of coherent in space perturbations with periods from 2 to 60 days and horizontal scales up to 8000 km are obtained. The most probable phase velocities of these waves are in the range from 3 to 12 km/h. The most probable wavelengths are 1600–4400 km.