Evolution of GNSS Radio Occultation Science from GPS/MET to COSMIC-2: Contributions from Rick Anthes (Invited Presentation)

The broad and significant impact that GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Radio Occultation (RO) has had on atmospheric science is in large part due to Rick Anthes’ programmatic and scientific contributions. As president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) from 1988 to 2012, Rick was instrumental in getting the proof-of-concept GPS/MET mission funded by NSF and in making sure the mission was executed successfully. Within the first two weeks after launch, Rick and UCAR scientists knew they had struck gold after seeing the first high vertical resolution GPS RO profiles of Earth. With the GPS RO concept proven, Rick knew the next step should be the launch of a constellation of GPS RO satellites to demonstrate the value for operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). After trying for several years without success to obtain U.S. agency support for such a mission, Rick turned to his scientific colleagues in Taiwan, which gave birth to the US/Taiwan Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) / FORMOSAT-3 mission.

Under Rick’s leadership, UCAR and Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO), with important support from the National Science Foundations and other U.S. agencies, jointly developed and executed the COSMIC mission and launched six micro-satellites into low Earth orbit in April 2006. Within the following year, both ECMWF and NCEP were assimilating COSMIC data operationally and showing significant positive impact on forecast skill. The success of COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 prompted U.S. agencies (led by NOAA) and Taiwan’s NSPO to execute a COSMIC follow-on operational mission called COSMIC-2/FORMOSAT-7 that will put six satellites with GNSS RO payloads into a 520 km altitude 24 degree inclination low Earth orbit. COSMIC-2 products will support operational weather prediction, climate monitoring, and space weather forecasting. This presentation will give an overview of Rick’s programmatic and scientific contributions toward the advancement of GNSS RO science and technology from the time period of GPS/MET through COSMIC-2.