On the real-time tropospheric delay estimates using low-cost GNSS receivers and antennas

Dense Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations are beneficial for monitoring the small-scale troposphere turbulence in both spatiotemporal domains. Densification of current geodetic GNSS networks can be achieved by incorporating low-cost GNSS receivers and antennas, benefitting weather monitoring. This study aims to focus on real-time tropospheric delay estimation using real-time GNSS data streams collected by low-cost GNSS receivers and antennas. The results indicate that: (1) Low-cost GNSS devices can offer accuracies of 7.5 mm in winter and 10.8 mm in summer for real-time zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) estimations; (2) By applying the phase center variation corrections for low-cost GNSS antennas, which are often ignored in previous studies on low-cost GNSS applications, can produce more reliable real-time ZTD estimations; (3) Low-cost GNSS devices can capture the ZTD fluctuations under heavy precipitation events in a real-time mode, showing a great potential as sensors to monitoring severe weather. These results underscore the viability of low-cost GNSS devices as cost-effective sensors that complement geodetic GNSS equipment in real-time troposphere monitoring and forecasting, especially at small scales. Their integration aids in the densification of existing monitoring networks, thereby bolstering GNSS meteorology applications.