Spatio‐Temporal Characteristics and Variability of GNSS‐Derived Atmospheric Precipitable Water Vapor From 2010 to 2023 in Fujian Province, China

Abstract

Atmospheric precipitable water vapor (PWV) is a crucial factor affecting precipitation and the atmospheric environment. To quantitatively investigate the spatio‐temporal distribution and characteristics of the PWV in Fujian, China, its diurnal and seasonal variations are analyzed based on the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data from 2010 to 2023, ground meteorological observations, meteorological sounding data and ERA5 data. Moreover, the spatio‐temporal characteristics of the monthly PWV are assessed by using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF), the Mann‐Kendall test and the sliding t‐test. The results indicate that the ground‐based GNSS PWV data is able to reveal the distribution and variation of PWV over Fujian. Specifically, the diurnal distribution of the PWV varies remarkably with time, and the PWV in the eastern coastal areas is generally higher than in the western mountainous areas. The seasonal variation characteristics of the PWV are consistent with the atmospheric circulation variations, with the largest amount of PWV in summer, followed by spring, autumn and winter. Moreover, the EOF spatial modes show that the PWV distributions are different in the eastern coastal areas and inland mountainous areas. The oscillation intensity of the PWV strengthens from the northwest to the southeast, and the corresponding time series of the PWV displays apparent seasonal variations. The observed precipitation is inconsistent with the PWV and is more affected by local terrain and thermodynamic conditions. The Mann‐Kendall test and the sliding t‐test indicate that the PWV over Fujian has not undergone abrupt changes during the past 13 years, but there is a possibility of sudden changes in the future.