Long Term Water Vapour Measurements Using GPS for Improvement of Climate Models
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | CHALMERS TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLA AKTIEBOLAG - Onsala Rymdobservatorium |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 4 031 000 |
| Project duration | January 2007 - June 2012 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
Title
Long Term Water Vapour Measurements Using GPS for Improvement of Climate Models
We will assess the impact of using Global Positioning System (GPS) data to infer time series of the atmospheric integrated water vapour (IWV) for the evaluation of climate models. The uncertainties of the estimated trends in the GPS time series will be studied. The major question is to what extent the IWV data, their estimated trends and uncertainties can be used to assess the quality of climate models and lead to model improvements.
Expected results and effects
Fifteen years long time series of IWV data are produced for Swedish and European GPS sites. The results will be availiable to users worldwide through Internet, publications and participation in international conferences. Recommendations for analysis of GPS data for climate research will be given.
Planned approach and implementation
We will assess the importance of corrections and models used in the GPS data analysis. The impact of new and modernized navigational satellites (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) on the estimation of IWV will be studied using simulation software. The IWV simulated by the Rossby Centre Atmospheric (RCA) regional climate model will be evaluated by comparing with the GPS IWV timeseries, seasonal and diurnal cycle. First we will use data from Sweden, thereafter from selected European GPS sites. Model deficiencies for different weather systems, land, and coastal stations will be identified. The aim is to improve the RCA parameterizations and thereby the quality of the simulated climate and the climate scenarios.