A simulator for GNSS-R polarimetric observations over the ocean

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite Systems - Reflec-tometry (GNSS-R) represents an innovative tool for remote sensing. In this paper a facet-based simulator is presented to investigate the polarimetric characteristics of GNSS L-band signals reflected off sea surface. The aim of the proposed technique is to improve the classical simulation technique based on the Zavorotny-Voronovich (Z-V) approach. Therefore, the scattered power and the Delay-Doppler Map are obtained using a time-evolving random 3D sea surface and the Kirchhoff Approximation (KA) of the Physical Optics (PO) to describe the scattering mechanisms. Finally the polarization ratio (PR) between co- and cross-polar scattered signal is fully investigated against different sea surface conditions, i.e. wind speed.