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Explain how GPS determines location. (

Explain how GPS determines location. (

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
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Explain how GPS determines location. (see For Further Exploration: Essay 5.1)

**Essay 5.1: Global Positioning System** The U.S. Department of Defense developed satellite navigation that would determine location precisely, at all times and in all types of weather. The Global Positioning System (GPS) began with the launch of the first Navstar satellite. GPS can provide near pinpoint location accuracy globally for a wide variety of military and civilian applications. Global satellite navigation systems are also run by Russia (GLONASS), India (IRNSS), China (BeiDou-2), and the European Union (Galileo). Prior to GPS, during World War II the U.S. developed radio-based long-range navigation (LORAN) for use by ships and aircraft. The Decca radio-based navigation system improved on LORAN and was used from World War II until GPS replaced it in the 1990s. The Loran-C system, similar to Decca, was also used until satellite navigation for civilian use became commonplace. Civilian use of GPS began in the 1980s, mostly on large ships. At least 24 Navstar satellites are needed to provide continuous service and once this was achieved in the early 1990s, inexpensive, small portable receivers were developed and marketed. Today the civilian sector accounts for the vast majority of GPS equipment sales, which have grown significantly during the 21st century. GPS is widely used for navigation by ships, planes, delivery trucks, automobiles and smartphones. Within oceanography, GPS has a variety of applications including vessel navigation, determination of Argo and glider float location, and calculation of climate-related sea-level changes on tidal gauges. The principle behind GPS is trilateration (related to triangulation) from satellites that are in view of the receiver (**Essay 5.1 Figure 1**). At least four satellites are needed for maximum precision. The time it takes for a ranging signal to travel from a satellite to a receiver is determined using accurate clocks. Atomic clock times are embedded in the code of a signal that is continuously transmitted by the satellites. When the timed signals arrive at the receiver they are compared with a code generated by the clock of the receiver. The time difference between the codes is the important factor. Radio signals travel at a finite speed (300,000 km per sec or 186,000 mi. per sec., the speed of light) so that elapsed time can be converted to distance. All GPS satellites are identifiable by their coded signals and their orbits are regular, allowing
Transcribed Image Text:**Essay 5.1: Global Positioning System** The U.S. Department of Defense developed satellite navigation that would determine location precisely, at all times and in all types of weather. The Global Positioning System (GPS) began with the launch of the first Navstar satellite. GPS can provide near pinpoint location accuracy globally for a wide variety of military and civilian applications. Global satellite navigation systems are also run by Russia (GLONASS), India (IRNSS), China (BeiDou-2), and the European Union (Galileo). Prior to GPS, during World War II the U.S. developed radio-based long-range navigation (LORAN) for use by ships and aircraft. The Decca radio-based navigation system improved on LORAN and was used from World War II until GPS replaced it in the 1990s. The Loran-C system, similar to Decca, was also used until satellite navigation for civilian use became commonplace. Civilian use of GPS began in the 1980s, mostly on large ships. At least 24 Navstar satellites are needed to provide continuous service and once this was achieved in the early 1990s, inexpensive, small portable receivers were developed and marketed. Today the civilian sector accounts for the vast majority of GPS equipment sales, which have grown significantly during the 21st century. GPS is widely used for navigation by ships, planes, delivery trucks, automobiles and smartphones. Within oceanography, GPS has a variety of applications including vessel navigation, determination of Argo and glider float location, and calculation of climate-related sea-level changes on tidal gauges. The principle behind GPS is trilateration (related to triangulation) from satellites that are in view of the receiver (**Essay 5.1 Figure 1**). At least four satellites are needed for maximum precision. The time it takes for a ranging signal to travel from a satellite to a receiver is determined using accurate clocks. Atomic clock times are embedded in the code of a signal that is continuously transmitted by the satellites. When the timed signals arrive at the receiver they are compared with a code generated by the clock of the receiver. The time difference between the codes is the important factor. Radio signals travel at a finite speed (300,000 km per sec or 186,000 mi. per sec., the speed of light) so that elapsed time can be converted to distance. All GPS satellites are identifiable by their coded signals and their orbits are regular, allowing
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