Realization of global empirical model for mapping zenith wet delays onto precipitable water using NCEP re-analysis data

Abstract

Considering the drawback of existing global weighted mean temperature model, this paper uses 2006–2012 NCEP reanalysis data to establish global empirical model for mapping zenith wet delays onto precipitable water—GTm_N, takes the influence of half-year periodicity of Tm into account when modelling and estimate the initial phase of each cycle. In order to evaluate the precision of GTm_N, we use three different Tm data sets from the NCEP during 2013, 650 radiosonde stations and COSMIC occultation in 2011 to test this model. The results show that GTm_N has higher precision in both ocean and continental area in every moment of every day. The accuracy of GTm_N is higher than Bevis formulas and GTm_II models. In addition, the actual surface temperature is not required in GTm_N model, and it will have wide application in GPS meteorology.