GPS provides highly accurate position and velocity information, and precise time, on a global basis. How is the GPS system affected by weather?

GPS provides highly accurate position and velocity information, and precise time, on a global basis. How is the GPS system affected by weather?

• A. Unaffected by the weather
• B. Degraded by thunderstorms
• C. Completely inoperable in rain
• D. Only affected by solar activity

Answer: (A)

Weather has little impact on GPS. The satellites transmit radio signals in the L-band that pass through clouds, rain, and storms with only minor losses, and a receiver tracks signals from many satellites to solve for position and time. Any weather-related delays from the troposphere or ionosphere are small and are modeled or corrected in the navigation solution, so normal weather doesn’t make GPS unusable. Solar activity can affect the ionosphere and thus GPS accuracy, but that’s separate from weather.

Weather has little impact on GPS. The satellites transmit radio signals in the L-band that pass through clouds, rain, and storms with only minor losses, and a receiver tracks signals from many satellites to solve for position and time. Any weather-related delays from the troposphere or ionosphere are small and are modeled or corrected in the navigation solution, so normal weather doesn’t make GPS unusable. Solar activity can affect the ionosphere and thus GPS accuracy, but that’s separate from weather.