Detection & Separation of Coherent Reflections in GNSS-R Measurements Using CYGNSS Data

Abstract

Recent results from CYGNSS measurements over land show the importance of coherent scattering. It is envisioned that future GNSS-R instruments will have the ability to separate and detect coherent scattering and downlink complex-valued coherent DDM measurements. This additional information will allow carrier phase altimetry, the separation of coherent and non-coherent scattered power, and the evaluation of geo-physical phenomena at along-track resolutions 10x greater than current spaceborne instruments, such as TDS-1 or CYGNSS. In this paper, we will present a prospective design for the on-board detection of coherent reflections. We also investigate how to achieve enhanced along-track resolution.