Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-237
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-237
Submitted as: development and technical paper
 | 
27 Mar 2025
Submitted as: development and technical paper |  | 27 Mar 2025
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal GMD.

DNS (v1.0): An open source ray-tracing tool for space geodetic techniques

Florian Zus, Kyriakos Balidakis, Ali Hasan Dogan, Rohith Thundathil, Galina Dick, and Jens Wickert

Abstract. We have developed an open source ray-tracing tool for space geodetic techniques. The software uses the geometric optics approximation to calculate the signal travel time delay induced by the atmosphere between two given points. The software is written in Fortran and uses OpenMP to speed up computation. The input to the ray-tracing tool are 3D pressure-, temperature- and humidity fields. The Earths magnetic- and electron density field are optional. For the neutral atmosphere (troposphere) the software accepts the NetCDF files from the atmospheric reanalysis ERA5 and the mesoscale model WRF. For the ionosphere the software accepts electron density fields derived from IRI and Ne-quick. We review the current status of the software and test its performance. For example, the one-to-one comparison with the open source software RADIATE shows the high speed and precision of our ray-tracing tool. We also show how our tool can be used to study higher order ionospheric effects (L-band frequencies). The two outstanding features of the ray-tracing tool compared to previous model developments, i.e., the ability to handle both the troposphere and the ionosphere and do so efficiently, make it perfectly suited for geoscientific applications.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Share
Florian Zus, Kyriakos Balidakis, Ali Hasan Dogan, Rohith Thundathil, Galina Dick, and Jens Wickert

Status: open (until 22 May 2025)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
Florian Zus, Kyriakos Balidakis, Ali Hasan Dogan, Rohith Thundathil, Galina Dick, and Jens Wickert
Florian Zus, Kyriakos Balidakis, Ali Hasan Dogan, Rohith Thundathil, Galina Dick, and Jens Wickert

Viewed

Total article views: 62 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
51 9 2 62 1 1
  • HTML: 51
  • PDF: 9
  • XML: 2
  • Total: 62
  • BibTeX: 1
  • EndNote: 1
Views and downloads (calculated since 27 Mar 2025)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 27 Mar 2025)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 40 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 40 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 30 Mar 2025
Download
Short summary
Atmospheric signal propagation effects are one of the largest error sources in the analysis of space geodetic techniques. Inaccuracies in the modelling map into errors in positioning, navigation and timing. We describe the open source ray tracing tool DNS and show the two outstanding features of this tool compared to previous model developments: it can handle both the troposphere and the ionosphere and it does so efficiently. This makes the tool perfectly suited for geoscientific applications.
Share