NOAA Observing Architecture for GNSS Radio Occultation Observation

Radio Occultation temperature and pressure profiles derived from refraction bending angles are a critical element of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models and for monitoring ionospheric state. For NOAA's prediction and forecast mission, they have been shown to by a non-biased "anchor" that improves the NWP model assimilation of observations from other profiling technologies. As a measure of the state of the ionosphere, they provide information necessary for the United States Space Situational Awareness (SSA) mission. This paper will present NOAA's capability to obtain globally-distributed and timely satellite-based coverage of GNSS-RO data in the near-term, and plans for continuity of these observations using diverse sources in the future. NOAA's future observing architecture will rely on a backbone of US Government-provided capability, data received through international partnerships, and data augmented by emerging capabilities of the commercial sector.