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5. Test and Validation Plans
Preliminary plans have been made to validate the "instrument" data by comparing
refractivity profiles derived from GPS/MET to refractivity profiles derived
from gridded radiosonde data that will be obtained via the Internet from the
NWS and other operational sources. For selected cases, we will compare GPS/MET
derived temperature and moisture profiles to profiles derived from gridded
operational data. Specific occultations will be selected for validation tests
based on the availability of hi quality operational data in the area. Cases
representative of polar, temperate, and tropical conditions will be tried, as
well as northern and southern hemisphere cases. We will also test the validity
of the data for several spacecraft/payload configurations to determine the
sensitivity of various satellite operational considerations.
A sophisticated 3-D ray-tracing tool has been obtained from NOAA and modified
for GPS/MET use. Using the ray-tracing tool and operational measurements of
the atmosphere and ionosphere, along with orbit information, simulated GPS/MET
Payload phase measurements can be derived. We will derive phase "measurements"
using this tool, and compare them with coincident GPS/MET payload raw phase
observations.
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