Calculation model and analysis of satellite-to-ground optical one-way time transfer error due to atmospheric refraction

Abstract The satellite-to-ground optical one-way time transfer plays an important role in constructing a high-precision, flexible and convenient time–frequency system. To address the time transfer error caused by atmospheric refraction, which varies with altitude and violates the symmetry and reciprocity assumed in two-way transmission, a precise computational model was developed. This model employs the measured atmospheric data and precise ephemeris obtained from professional institutions to accurately calculate the satellite-to-ground optical one-way time transfer error due to atmospheric refraction. Four ground stations with typical climates were selected to analyze the time transfer error data over nearly one year. The results indicate that the satellite-to-ground optical one-way time transfer error due to atmospheric refraction reaches the order of several tens nanoseconds, while induced by the dynamic variation of atmospheric parameters is approximately on the order of several hundred picoseconds. It is expected that the satellite-to-ground optical one-way time transfer error due to atmospheric refraction can be reduced to the order of picoseconds by using the model prediction and correction methods.