High-value remote sensing for the geosciences: Opportunistic use of navigation satellite signals

It is now recognized that the enormous challenge of scientifically understanding the Earth system requires careful strategic decisions on what missions are deployed. In a recent report, the National Research Council developed a “value framework” for Earth observing systems with a focus on prioritizing NASA observations that merit long-term continuity. In this paper, we refer to this framework to discuss how high value observations arise from opportunistic use of signals generated by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS. The increasing number of GNSS constellations internationally, likely to be permanently deployed, suggests that the geosciences community will benefit by adopting these signals for a variety of remote sensing needs. We describe recent progress in using these observations scientifically and developing technology to exploit them. We conclude that dedicated constellations of GNSS science instruments in low Earth orbit capable of receiving both direct and reflected GNSS signals will provide excellent science return in a broad range of areas, and constitute a high value Earth observing system.

1. Introduction

Satellite-based Earth remote sensing (solid and aqueous surfaces, atmosphere, ionosphere) provides critical information used by the scientific community to address high priority Earth science questions. Remote sensing typically relies on electromagnetic radiation, either naturally or intentionally produced, to provide the link between a distant region of the Earth being studied and a satellite-based sensor that receives the radiation for quantitative analysis and interpretation.