A novel approach for assimilating GNSS tropospheric gradient information to improve numerical weather prediction

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00025615%3A_____%2F26%3AN0000002" target="_blank" >RIV/00025615:_____/26:N0000002 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169809526000335" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169809526000335</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108769" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108769</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

A novel approach for assimilating GNSS tropospheric gradient information to improve numerical weather prediction

Original language description

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has emerged as a well-established atmospheric observing system, with Zenith Total Delay (ZTD) and integrated water vapor routinely assimilated by several global and regional Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) centers. While co-derived tropospheric gradients effectively capture water vapor horizontal anisotropy, their assimilation has yet to be widely adopted. Here, we introduce a novel approach for assimilating GNSS tropospheric gradients into the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model by constructing pseudo-ZTD observations from GNSS-derived ZTD and gradient data. Through two comparative experiments, we evaluate the potential influence of GNSS tropospheric gradients on WRF forecasts. The results indicate that assimilating these gradients improves humidity and wind field predictions in the lower-to-middle troposphere (850–500 hPa), with a neutral impact on surface fields. Verification against radar estimates further demonstrates enhanced precipitation forecast skills, particularly for heavy precipitation events, by better resolving the spatial distribution and intensity of precipitation systems. A diagnosis of a precipitation event suggests that the assimilation of GNSS tropospheric gradients is able to adjust the forecast mid-level moisture distribution and modulate the forecast upward motion, thereby influencing the formation of spurious precipitation.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10509 - Meteorology and atmospheric sciences

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2026

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Atmospheric Research

ISSN

0169-8095

e-ISSN

1873-2895

Volume of the periodical

334

Issue of the periodical within the volume

108769

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001669484900002

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105027440032