High-Rate Altimetry in SNR-Based GNSS-R: Proof-of-Concept of a Synthetic Vertical Array

Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) has emerged as a promising remote sensing technique for coastal sea level monitoring. The GNSS-R based on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) observations employs single antenna and conventional receiver. It performs best low elevation satellites, where direct reflected radio waves are very similar in polarization direction of arrival. One the disadvantages SNR-based GNSS-R sea level altimetry is its low temporal resolution, which the order one hour each independent satellite pass. Here we present a proof-of-concept synthetic vertical array. exploits mechanical movement at high rate (about 1 Hz). SNR observations can then be fit to known modulation, order sweeping rate. We demonstrate that centimetric precision be achieved in 5-minute session. [©2021 IEEE]