The embodiment of the invention provides a GNSS (Global Navigation
Satellite System)-based
water vapor gradient calculation method. Relates to the meteorological
data processing field. The method comprises the following steps: calculating south-north / east-west horizontal gradient oblique
path delay according to site information of a GNSS observation
station in a research area and a
troposphere delay formula; respectively converting the south-north / east-west horizontal gradient oblique
path delay into corresponding south-north / east-west oblique path
water vapor increment according to the
water vapor conversion factor; projecting the south-north / east-west inclined path water vapor increment to the horizontal direction according to the geometric
elevation angle to obtain a south-north / east-west water vapor gradient in the horizontal direction; obtaining the
horizontal projection distance of the observation
station according to the geometric
elevation angle and the
troposphere top height; calculating a
unit distance south-north / east-west water vapor gradient component according to the horizontal south-north / east-west water vapor gradient and the
horizontal projection distance of the observation
station; and calculating a water vapor gradient value according to the water vapor gradient component. Therefore, the problem that the horizontal gradient
delay range is not clear is solved, and non-uniform water vapor information in the north-south direction and the east-west direction of the
unit distance can be accurately described.