Novel Method for Ground-based GNSS Radio Occultation Measurement

Propagation Research Associates, Inc., (PRA) proposes to redesign our existing Enhanced Tropospheric Effects Compensation ground-based radio occultation (RO) measurement system, which was developed, prototyped, and demonstrated under previous SBIR contracts, for the purpose of optimizing cost and performance. Assimilation of space-based RO measurements into numerical weather models is a proven method for increasing model forecast skill. Development of ground-based RO has to this point been limited to mountaintop locations and airborne platforms. PRA’s proposed system would be a novel approach to a ground-based radio occultation measurement. PRA’s hardware will allow RO measurements from any land location at any altitude. In Phase I, we will focus on redesigning the data acquisition system, demonstrating parts of our design through an experiment, and optimizing the antenna performance. We will also expand the system design to collect other Global Navigation Satellite System constellation signals, such as the Russian GLONASS and European Galileo systems, in addition to the existing Global Positioning System (GPS) capability.