Aussie joins 150 unis world-wide to monitor weather with GPS

A Monash University researcher is helping improve forecasting and our understanding of weather patterns by using global positioning system (GPS) satellites to measure water vapour in the atmosphere.

Dr Jason Beringer is collaborating with 150 universities around the world as part of the SuomiNet project, which aims to measure atmospheric water vapour in real time and will provide data for use in research, education and commercial applications.

Dr Beringer, who is measuring water vapour through a GPS base station positioned on top of the Menzies building at Monash's Clayton campus, said the approach provided data in real time and in all weather conditions, providing more accurate forecasting and understanding of weather phenomena.

"This is important for input to climate models that can then better predict precipitation, severe storms and regional climates," Dr Beringer said. "Water vapour is a natural greenhouse gas, so changes to it have implications for enhanced warming."

The base station, the only station of its type in Australia, consists of a dual frequency GPS receiver and an array of meteorological instruments mounted together with a traditional 'trig' beacon used for surveying.

The satellite uses radio signals to locate the position of the base station. Water vapour disrupts the signal, creating errors in the time it takes for the station to receive this signal. This error in timing is used to determine water vapour content.

The GPS signals are analysed together with meteorological data to determine the amount of water contained in a 'vertical column' in the atmosphere and the GPS base station has the added advantage that it collects precise locational information for geographical surveying, mapping and navigation.

Item provided courtesy of Monash University