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  • Ground-Based Global Positioning System (GPS) Meteorology Integrated Precipitable Water Vapor (IPW)

    Metadata Updated: November 12, 2020

    The Ground-Based Global Positioning System (GPS) Meteorology Integrated Precipitable Water Vapor (IPW) data set measures atmospheric water vapor using ground-based GPS receivers. The data contain observations from several hundred locations around the globe every 30 minutes from 2002-05-01 to 2016-11-28. However, most locations lie within the continental United States. The data set was formed in response to the need for improved moisture observations to support weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and research. The data set contains total precipitable water estimates, GPS total signal delay, GPS hydrostatic signal delay, GPS wet signal delay, surface temperature, surface pressure, mean-weighted surface temperature, and the wet delay mapping function. The GPS-IPW network processes data from both NOAA and other agency CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Sites) sites. All sites are equipped with a GPS receiver and many are equipped with a surface meteorological instrumentation package. GPS satellite observation are combined with GPS satellite orbit and earth orientation parameters to estimate GPS signal delay (Zenith Total Delay -- ZTD). Signal delays are then combined with surface meteorological information are used to estimate total precipitable water. For sites without surface meteorology sensors, data from nearby ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System) systems were used. Data set variables and their resolution: total precipitable water; 0.001 m, GPS total signal delay; 0.001m, GPS hydrostatic signal delay; 0.001m, GPS wet signal delay; 0.001m, surface temperature; 0.1 K, surface pressure; 0.1 hpa, mean-weighted surface temperature; 0.1 K, wet delay mapping function; 0.1 (dimensionless). Late updated in November 2016 with no plans for updating at this time due to funding.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date December 3, 2018
    Metadata Created Date November 12, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date November 12, 2020
    Reference Date(s) April 1, 2002 (publication), April 1, 2002 (creation), November 29, 2016 (lastUpdate)
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned

    Graphic Preview

    A 30 day time series of integrated precipitable water vapor (IPW) estimated at Boulder, CO and Blacksburg, VA

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date December 3, 2018
    Metadata Created Date November 12, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date November 12, 2020
    Reference Date(s) April 1, 2002 (publication), April 1, 2002 (creation), November 29, 2016 (lastUpdate)
    Responsible Party DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Point of Contact); DOC/NOAA/OAR/ESRL/GSD/ > Global Systems Division, Earth System Research Laboratory, OAR, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.ncdc:C00962
    Access Constraints Cite as: Holub, Kirk L. and Gutman, Seth I. (2016):Ground-Based Global Positioning System (GPS) Meteorology, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). doi:10.7289/V5DR2SHD [access date]., Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 180.0
    Bbox North Lat 90.0
    Bbox South Lat -90.0
    Bbox West Long -180.0
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned
    Graphic Preview Description A 30 day time series of integrated precipitable water vapor (IPW) estimated at Boulder, CO and Blacksburg, VA
    Graphic Preview File https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/C00962.png
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id a15fd272-aded-4a8f-b04b-d780afe907a3
    Harvest Source Id 2cb3ef77-1683-4c2a-9119-dc65e50917c6
    Harvest Source Title ncdc
    Licence There are no known limitations to the dataset's usability. The system is all-weather; limited only by power at and communications with the CORS sites.
    Metadata Language eng; USA
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2002-04-01
    Temporal Extent End 2016-11-29

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