Analysis of GNSS‐R delay‐Doppler maps from the UK‐DMC satellite over the ocean

Abstract

A study of the retrieval of sea surface roughness using Global Navigation Satellite System‐Reflectometry (GNSS‐R) from satellite is presented. Delay‐Doppler Maps (DDMs) from the SSTL UK‐DMC satellite are analyzed to retrieve directional Mean Square Slopes (MSSs). Results are compared to theoretically‐derived MSSs and in situ measurements from co‐located buoys of the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), showing good agreement in most cases. Here, the whole DDM, a more complete source of information, is exploited for the first time using satellite GNSS‐R data. These are potentially able to provide high spatial and temporal sampling, and therefore offer an improved way to observe wind and waves by means of a very modest instrument.