GNSS-R as a source of opportunity for remote sensing of the cryosphere

• Main Author: Fabra Cervellera, Fran
• Other Authors: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament de Teoria del Senyal i Comunicacions, Cardellach Galí, Estel
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya 2013
• Subjects: Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria de la telecomunicació; Teledetecció lemac; Satèl·lits artificials en navegació; Sistema de posicionament global; Arctic; Greenland; Sea ice; The Cryosphere
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2117/94934; http://hdl.handle.net/10803/117605; https://doi.org/10.5821/dissertation-2117-94934

This work evaluates the potential use of signals from the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) that scatter off the Earth surface for the retrieval of geophysical information from the cryosphere. For this purpose, the present study is based on data collected with a dedicated reflectometry GNSS receiver during two field campaigns, which were focused on two types of characteristic surfaces of the cryosphere: thin sea ice covers and thick dry snow accumulations. During the first experiment, the complete process of formation, evolution and melting of sea ice was monitorized for more than seven months in a bay located in Greenland. This type of ice is typically characterized by its thickness, concentration and roughness. Different observables from GNSS reflections are analyzed to try to infer these properties. The ice thickness is linked to the free-board level, defined as the height of the sea ice surface. Accurate phase altimetry is achieved, showing good agreement with an Arctic tide model. In addition, the long term results of ellipsoidal height retrievals are consistent with the evolution of the ice surface temperature product given by MODIS, which is a key parameter in the rate of growth of sea ice. On the other hand, the presence of salinity in the sea ice modifies its dielectric properties, resulting in different amplitude and phase for the co- and cross-polar components of the complex Fresnel coefficients. The polarimetric measurements obtained show good agreement with visual inspections of ice concentration from an Arctic weather station. Finally, the shape of the reflected signals and its phase dispersion are tested as potential signatures of surface roughness. For comparison, ice charts of the experimental area are employed. In particular, maximums in roughness given by the GNSS observables coincide with fast ice events. Fast ice is defined as ice anchored to the coast, where the tidal movements contribute to the development of strange patterns, cracks, and fissures on its surface, thus consistent ...