Patent ID: 7739048

Claim:
A method for obtaining weather related information for a portion of the Earth's atmosphere between a predetermined surface portion of the Earth and a moving airborne object located over the predetermined surface portion, using a position locating signal from a space vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a first position locating signal at the moving airborne object while at a known, predetermined elevation above said predetermined surface portion of the Earth, said first position locating signal being received by the moving airborne object directly from said space vehicle; receiving a second position locating signal at the moving airborne object while at said known, predetermined elevation, said second position locating signal being reflected from said predetermined surface portion at a known angle before being received by the moving airborne object; using phase information pertaining to a phase of each of said first and second position locating signals to determine a refractivity of said atmosphere between said predetermined surface portion and said moving airborne object; and using said refractivity to determine weather related information for said atmosphere.