GNSS Weather applications: PW performance with GPS techniques about rainfalls in Spain

3^rd International Conference on Hydrology & Meteorology

September 15-16, 2014 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Diego Ferragud Trillo

Accepted Abstracts: Hydrol Current Res

Abstract :

The Spanish Mediterranean area is periodically affected by torrential rainfall events during autumn. In September 2012, one of these episodes took place with upto 50 mm of rain in a 1 hour and more than 300 mm in 12 hours. This study shows the spatial and temporal variability of the GNSS estimated atmospheric water vapour content (GWV) and the observed rains during this event. GNSS technology is now an established atmospheric observing system which can accurately sense water vapour. GNSS data were obtained from the 38 GNSS sites available in the Spanish Mediterranean Area. The GNSS data processing strategy demonstrated its goodness by comparison of the obtained GNSS water vapour values with three radio sounding observed data. It was observed a good correlation between the GWV maximum values and the registered rains. Tropospheric water vapour monitoring shows the fast changes in this variable when a rain front is approaching. Predicting the development of severe weather phenomena such as cyclone and storm evolution is highly dependent on very precise estimates of water vapour contained within the lower atmosphere. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technology has demonstrated its capacity as an accurate sensor of atmospheric water vapour with the application of GNSS for numerical weather prediction. GNSS data processing estimates the content of atmospheric water vapour, based on the signal propagation tropospheric delay across the satellite-receiver path. So, thanks to the permanent GNSS reference stations this variable can be continuously estimated around the world, improving the knowledge of the tropospheric water vapour distribution.

Biography :

Diego Ferragud Trillo has completed his Master of Science in GIS, Geodesy and Cartography engineer at the age of 26 years from Politechnic Valencia University and Bachelor Degree in Surveying engineer studies from the same University. Also, he belongs to the Group COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action ES1206 allowing the coordination of nationally-funded research on a European level, being a working group member.