A new method for monitoring surface wind speed distribution using GNSS-derived precipitable water vapor during typhoon periods

Surface wind speed (WS) is essential for assessing typhoon intensity and associated impacts. This study develops a GNSS-derived precipitable water vapor (PWV)-based approach for estimating surface WS during typhoons. Forty typhoons affecting Kyushu, Japan, during 2019–2023 were analyzed using PWV derived from 97 GNSS stations. PWV and WS exhibited significant positive correlations (0.6–0.8) during typhoons. Among three developed PWV-WS models, the third-order polynomial model showed favorable regional applicability, with MAE, RMSE and STD of 2.49, 2.95 m/s and 2.15 m/s, respectively. Application to Super Typhoon Khanun further demonstrated the potential of GNSS-derived PWV for supplementary surface wind monitoring during typhoons.