We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Remote sensing and its applications using GNSS reflected signals: advances and prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how GPS and satellite navigation signals reflected off Earth's surface (GNSS-Reflectometry) can measure ocean conditions, soil moisture, ice thickness, and other environmental variables — and highlighted emerging uses including detecting microplastics on the ocean surface from space.
Abstract The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including the US’s GPS, China’s BDS, the European Union’s Galileo, and Russia’s GLONASS, offer real-time, all-weather, any-time, anywhere and high precision observations by transmitting L band signals continuously, which have been widely used for positioning, navigation and timing. With the development of GNSS technology, it has been found that GNSS-reflected signals can be used to detect Earth’s surface characteristics together with other signals of opportunity. In this paper, the current status and latest advances are presented on Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) in theory, methods, techniques and observations. New developments and progresses in GNSS-R instruments, theoretical modeling, and signal processing, ground and space-/air-borne experiments, parameters retrieval (e.g. wind speed, sea surface height, soil moisture, ice thickness), sea surface altimetry and applications in the atmosphere, oceans, land, vegetation, and cryosphere are given and reviewed in details. Meanwhile, the challenges in the GNSS-R development of each field are also given. Finally, the future applications and prospects of GNSS-R are discussed, including multi-GNSS reflectometry, new GNSS-R receivers, GNSS-R missions, and emerging applications, such as mesoscale ocean eddies, ocean phytoplankton blooms, microplastics detection, target recognition, river flow, desert studies, natural hazards and landslides monitoring.
More Papers Like This
GNSS-R Observations of Marine Plastic Litter in a Water Flume: An Experimental Study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted controlled water flume experiments to test GNSS-Reflectometry for detecting marine plastic litter, finding that while reflected power changes were unreliable, statistical analysis of short-integration-time reflectivity measurements could detect large accumulations of wave-dampening debris like nets and bags.
Toward the Detection and Imaging of Ocean Microplastics With a Spaceborne Radar
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed the feasibility of detecting ocean microplastics using spaceborne synthetic aperture radar, finding that radar signatures of microplastic-concentrated surface films may be detectable under certain wind and sea-state conditions.
Satellite sensors as an emerging technique for monitoring macro- and microplastics in aquatic ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
This review assessed the emerging use of satellite remote sensing technologies for monitoring macro- and microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems, evaluating current capabilities and limitations of different satellite sensors for detecting waterborne plastic debris.
A Global Review of Progress in Remote Sensing and Monitoring of Marine Pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how remote sensing technology, including satellites and drones, is being used to monitor marine pollution such as oil spills, floating debris, and microplastics. While the technology works well for detecting large-scale pollution, methods for tracking microplastics in the ocean are still in early development. Better monitoring tools are needed to understand the full scope of marine microplastic pollution, which ultimately affects seafood safety and human health.
Exploring The Use Of SAR Remote Sensing To Detect Microplastics Pollution In The Oceans
AI summary Read the abstract
This study explored whether synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing can detect microplastic pollution in ocean surface waters, examining the feasibility of using satellite radar imagery to map plastic accumulation zones. The work addresses the need for scalable monitoring tools that could complement expensive and spatially limited in situ sampling methods.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.