DSN water vapor radiometer development: Recent work, 1978

Abstract

A water vapor radiometer (WVR) was developed that measures the atmospheric noise temperature at two different frequencies near 22 GHz. These noise temperature are used in empirical-theoretical equations that yield tropospheric range delay, in centimeters, through the atmosphere along the beam of the WVR. This range correction is then applied, as needed, to measurements concerning spacecraft range and to VLBI baseline determinations. The WVR design and calibration techniques are discussed.