Precision analysis of troposphere sensing using GPS single-frequency signals

Journal article (2019)

Authors

K. Wang Curtin University
Amir Khodabandeh Curtin University, University of Melbourne
P.J.G. Teunissen Curtin University, Mathematical Geodesy and Positioning - CEG
Research Group
Mathematical Geodesy and Positioning (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 K. Wang, A. Khodabandeh, P.J.G. Teunissen
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2018.09.006
Ionosphere Single-frequency Troposphere Dual-frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) Zenith Wet Delay (ZWD)
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Research Group

Mathematical Geodesy and Positioning

Abstract

Various studies have been performed to investigate the accuracy of troposphere zenith wet delays (ZWDs) determined from GPS. Most of these studies use dual-frequency GPS data of large-scale networks with long baselines to determine the absolute ZWDs. For small-scale networks the estimability of the absolute ZWDs deteriorates due to high correlation between the solutions of the ZWDs and satellite-specific parameters as satellite clocks. However, as relative ZWDs (rZWDs) can always be estimated, irrespective of the size of the network, it is of interest to understand how the large-scale network rZWD-performance of dual-frequency GPS using an ionosphere-float model compares to the small-scale network rZWD-performance of single-frequency GPS using an ionosphere-weighted model. In this contribution such an analysis is performed using undifferenced and uncombined network parametrization modelling. In this context we demonstrate the ionosphere weighted constraints, which allows the determination of the rZWDs independent from signals on the second frequency. Based on an analysis of both simulated and real data, it is found that under quiet ionosphere conditions, the accuracy of the single-frequency determined rZWDs in the ionosphere-weighted network is comparable to that of the large-scale dual-frequency network without ionospheric constraints. Making use of the real data from two baselines of 15 days, it was found that the absolute differences of the rZWDs applying the two strategies are within 1 cm in over 90% and 95% of the time for ambiguity-float and -fixed cases, respectively.