Ionospheric Correction for retrieving atmospheric variables from GPS occultation data

[1] There are systematical errors associated with ionospheric influence in retrieving key atmospheric parameters from radio occultation (RO) soundings. In order to obtain better-quality retrievals, we develop a new method, hereafter called National Central University Radio Occultation (NCURO) scheme, to reduce the ionospheric influence. The excess phase is divided into two parts, namely geometric excess length and path excess length (excess length along ray path due to refractivity effect). An excess phase equation is presented and implemented in the NCURO scheme Whose performance is evaluated through comparisons with model simulation and experimental data. The model simulation is based on the use of the ionospheric model 002001 and atmospheric model NRLMSISE-OO. Results show that the NCURO scheme significantly reduces the ionospheric influence at altitudes above 70 km as does the scheme presented in the literature, and provides better corrections for the atmospheric profile. INDEX TERMS: 2400 Ionosphere: Ionosphere; 6964 Radio Science: Radio wave propagation; 6969 Radio Science: Remote sensing.