GPS meteorology in a low-latitude region: Remote sensing of atmospheric water vapor over the Malaysian Peninsula

• Published in: Journal of atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics 2011-10, Vol.73 (16), p.2410-2422
• Main Authors: Musa, T.A., Amir, S., Othman, R., Ses, S., Omar, K., Abdullah, K., Lim, S., Rizos, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Continuously operating reference station; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; GPS; Integrated water vapor; Low-latitude region; Physics of the ionosphere; Physics of the magnetosphere
• ISSN: 1364-6826; 1879-1824
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2011.08.014

This paper presents an accuracy assessment of IWV data obtained from one year of GPS measurements in Peninsular Malaysia and the correlation between this GPS-derived IWV and radiosonde-derived IWV. Four GPS stations in close proximity to existing radiosonde stations are assessed; the root mean square errors of the GPS-derived IWVs are 3.447 kg/m 2, 3.786 kg/m 2, 4.122 kg/m 2 and 4.253 kg/m 2 and their linear correlation coefficients are 0.877, 0.797, 0.851 and 0.849, respectively. Such strong correlations indicate that GPS data has the potential to be used for water vapor observation in Peninsular Malaysia for locations with few weather stations. ► This study presents an accuracy assessment of GPS-derived IWV in Peninsular Malaysia. ► Strong correlation is found between GPS-derived IWV and radiosonde-derived IWV. ► Diurnal variation of GPS-derived IWV show Northeast is stronger than Southwest monsoon. ► GPS for meteorology has the potential to be used for locations with few weather stations.