An Introduction to the HydroGNSS GNSS Reflectometry Remote Sensing Mission

Unwin, Martin J.; Pierdicca, Nazzareno; Cardellach, Estel; Rautiainen, Kimmo; Foti, Giuseppe; Blunt, Paul; Guerriero, Leila; Santi, Emanuele; Tossaint, Michel

Abstract

HydroGNSS (Hydrology using Global Navigation Satellite System reflections) has been selected as the second European Space Agency (ESA) Scout earth observation mission to demonstrate the capability of small satellites to deliver science. This article summarizes the case for HydroGNSS as developed during its system consolidation study. HydroGNSS is a high-value dual small satellite mission, which will prove new concepts and offer timely climate observations that supplement and complement the existing observations and are high in ESAs earth observation scientific priorities. The mission delivers the observations of four hydrological essential climate variables as defined by the global climate observing system using the new technique of GNSS reflectometry. These will cover the world's land mass to 25 km resolution, with a 15-day revisit. The variables are soil moisture, inundation or wetlands, freeze/thaw state, and above-ground biomass.

Citation

Unwin, M. J., Pierdicca, N., Cardellach, E., Rautiainen, K., Foti, G., Blunt, P., Guerriero, L., Santi, E., & Tossaint, M. (2021). An Introduction to the HydroGNSS GNSS Reflectometry Remote Sensing Mission. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 14, 6987-6999. https://doi.org/10.1109/jstars.2021.3089550

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 26, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jun 15, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 15, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 22, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 25, 2021
• Journal: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing
• Print ISSN: 1939-1404
• Electronic ISSN: 2151-1535
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Pages: 6987-6999
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/jstars.2021.3089550
• Keywords: Atmospheric Science; Computers in Earth Sciences
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6509499
• Publisher URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9456091