An empirical relation to correct storm-time thermospheric mass density modeled by NRLMSISE-00 with CHAMP satellite air drag data

With the help of STAR (Spatial Triaxial Accelerometer for Research) accelerometer measurements on board CHAMP (Challenging Minisatellite Payload), the global distributions of total mass density changes at about 400 km height during major magnetic storms are studied, aiming to improve the capability of current thermospheric model for predicting the storm-time mass density distribution. The density calculated by the NRLMSISE-00 model without using the geomagnetic active index as input is taken as a reference on top of which the storm-time changes are added. In total 19 storm events during 2001–2004 are used to perform a comprehensive statistical analysis. A relative calibration of drag coefficient along with accelerometer calibration parameters is made by fitting the CHAMP observed initial mass densities in with the NRLMSISE-00 model on quiet days before each storm. The dependences of the storm-time changes in mass density on both the total global Joule heating power, ∑_Qj$\sum Q_{\text{j}}$ and the high-resolution ring current index, Sym-H, are investigated. The lag times of mass density changes with respect to the Joule heating and Sym-H variation are obtained as a function of latitude and sunlight. By using a multiple linear regression analysis with proper time shift, an empirical relation connecting storm-time changes in mass density for 400 km height with the two parameters, ∑_Qj$\sum Q_{\text{j}}$ and Sym-H, has been worked out for different latitude and sunlight conditions (day-side or night-side). Adding a correction calculated from the empirical relation to the NRLMSISE-00 model reference leads to a better prediction of storm-time thermospheric mass density distribution.     

Global Gravity Field Recovery Using Solely GPS Tracking and Accelerometer Data from Champ

A new long-wavelength global gravity field model, called EIGEN-1, has been derived in a joint German-French effort from orbit perturbations of the CHAMP satellite, exploiting CHAMP-GPS satellite-to-satellite tracking and on-board accelerometer data over a three months time span. For the first time it becomes possible to recover the gravity field from one satellite only. Thanks to CHAMP'S tailored orbit characteristics and dedicated instrumentation, providing continuous tracking and on-orbit measurements of non-gravitational satellite accelerations, the three months CHAMP-only solution provides the geoid and gravity with an accuracy of 20 cm and 1 mgal, respectively, at a half wavelength resolution of 550 km, which is already an improvement by a factor of two compared to any pre-CHAMP satellite-only gravity field model. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Global monitoring of tropospheric water vapor with GPS radio occultation aboard CHAMP

The global positioning system radio occultation (GPS RO) technique provides a powerful tool for atmospheric sounding which requires no calibration, is not affected by clouds, aerosols or precipitation, and provides an almost uniform global coverage. The paper deals with application of GPS RO measurements from CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) for the retrieval of tropospheric water vapor profiles. CHAMP RO data are available since 2001 with up to 200 high resolution atmospheric profiles per day. We introduce a new direct method for water vapor retrieval from GPS RO data. Additionally, a 1Dvar algorithm is used for this purpose. The so derived CHAMP water vapor profiles are validated with radiosonde data on a global scale. Here, both methods come to statistically comparable results revealing a negative bias of less than 0.1 g/kg and a standard deviation of less than 1 g/kg specific humidity in the mid troposphere. Potentials of CHAMP RO retrievals for monitoring the mean tropospheric water vapor distribution on a global scale are presented.