TJU Efforts to Boost Country’s Meteorological Observation

At 12:37, December 22, 2020, the Long March 8 conducted its maiden flight successfully and brought with it five satellites into the space. The Yunyao GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) occultation weather detection payload developed byTianjin Yunyao Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd that is led by Dr. Li Fenghui from Tianjin Universityis carried on Yuanguang Satellite, one of the five satellites, alsoone of the 80 satellites the company plans todeploy in orbit to form a "Meteorological Beidou" global network according to the company’s Yunyao constellation project.

The GNSS occultation weather detection payload is a new type of satellite borne remote sensing detection equipment. It can detect the refractive index, temperature, humidity and pressure of 0-60km atmosphere and the electron content and density of 100-800km ionosphere. The equipment will provide data for the study of the earth's surface atmosphere and ionosphere, and have important value for weather forecast, global climate change and earthquake prediction.

Dr. Li Fenghui’s team spent several years in developing the Yunyao GNSS occultation detection payload. It has the characteristics of low cost, low power consumption, small size, light weight and high temporal-spatial resolution. It can simultaneously detect the occultation data in multiple regions of the world, and realize continuous detection from the atmosphere to the ionosphere.

“Our payload can be carried into space by different types of satellites and collect massive occultation signals on orbit,” said Li Fenghui, adding that the Yunyao constellation project aims to distribute the payloads on 80 satellites to form a global meteorological observation network, which can provide weather forecast information and short-term and imminent earthquake prediction information with real-time performance better than 20 minutes. “It will help to build our country’s own global ocean meteorological navigation system that will serve our ocean-going vessels.” Li noted.

By Eva Yin