Multi-GNSS and Multi-frequency SNR Multipath Reflectometry of Snow Depth

Abstract:

Global Navigation Satellite System multipath reflectometry (GNSS-MR) uses ground-based signals of opportunity to retrieve snow depth at an intermediate space scale. This technique is based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the simultaneously received direct (line-of-sight) and coherently ground reflected signals.

In this contribution, forward and inverse modeling of SNR observations is presented for GLONASS-MR, extending GPS-MR to multiple GNSS. The coupling of the surface and antenna responses from short-delay near-grazing incidence multipath from CDMA and FDMA satellite navigation systems are simulated using an electromagnetic forward model. The inverse model is used to estimate parameter corrections responsible for observation residuals to estimate snow depth. The correlation between snow depth retrievals using GPS L2C signal and GLONASS R2-C/A signal is excellent, with r² value of 0.990.

In a related approach, dual-frequency SNR-based GNSS-MR, which is based on linear combination of SNR observables, is used to estimate snow depth. This ionospheric delay free method synthesizes longer carrier wavelengths (“widelaning” or delta-k) to isolate the direct power contribution in environmental retrievals.