What additional information do GPS satellite signals provide besides location?

The GPS satellite signals carry critical information beyond just the user's location. One of the key pieces of data included in these signals is the time of signal transmission. GPS satellites are equipped with highly accurate atomic clocks, allowing them to transmit precise timing information. When a GPS receiver picks up these signals from multiple satellites, it can use the time stamps from the signals to calculate how long it took for the signals to reach the receiver. This time difference, combined with the known speed of light, enables the receiver to determine its distance from each satellite. By triangulating this distance data from multiple satellites, the GPS receiver can accurately calculate its own position in three-dimensional space.

The other options involve concepts that are either not transmitted by GPS satellites or are dependent on additional systems or data sources. For instance, atmospheric conditions may affect satellite signals but are not directly provided in the signal itself. Similarly, while the user's device location is determined via the GPS data, it is not something the satellite broadcasts. Finally, the directional path to ground stations is relevant in certain contexts, such as communication systems, but is not part of the core information transmitted by GPS satellites.