Variations of precipitable water vapor in sandstorm season determined from GNSS data: the case of China’s Wuhai

Abstract

In recent years, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has witnessed rapid development. However, during the sandstorm season, the precipitable water vapor (PWVGNSS) determined from the GNSS data produces large fluctuations due to the influence of particulate matter, which can indirectly reflect the change in particulate matter concentration. To study the variations of PWVGNSS during the sandstorm season, daily data of PWVGNSS, particulate matter (PM10), and precipitation in Wuhai from 2017 to 2021 were used in this study. The principal components of PWV residual (PWVRPC) were obtained by using the least-squares linear fitting, singular spectrum analysis, and least-squares spectral analysis on PWVGNSS. The principal components of PM10 (PM10PC) were obtained by using least squares linear fitting and singular spectrum analysis for PM10. This study performed a correlation analysis of PWVRPC with PM10PC and precipitation data. The results showed a strong correlation between PWVRPC and PM10PC, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.6. However, it was found that the correlation between PWVRPC and precipitation was not significant. This indicates that during the sandstorm season, PM10 affects PWV determined from GNSS data. Graphical Abstract