HydroGNSS is the second mission in the ESA Scout program, demonstrating Earth Observation science with a small budget and rapid schedule.
HydroGNSS is a 55kg satellite that will take measurements of key hydrological climate variables, including soil moisture, freeze-thaw state over permafrost, inundation, and wetlands, and above-ground biomass.
GNSS Reflectometry
It uses a technique called GNSS Reflectometry that exploits signals from Global Navigation Satellites Systems as radar signal sources.
These signals reflect off the land, ice, and ocean and are used by a low-power receiver in Low Earth Orbit to yield important geophysical measurements.
Online Workshop Information
SSTL is holding an online workshop to introduce the HydroGNSS mission, the science behind the retrievals
SSTL is holding an online workshop to introduce the HydroGNSS mission, the science behind the retrievals, the products anticipated at Data Levels 2 and 2, their relationship to Essential Climate Variables (ECVs), and the plans for calibration and validation of the results.
The workshop will discuss lessons learned from previous reflectometry missions, and how future HydroGNSS products could be accommodated alongside other data into climate and meteorological models to improve hydrological and climate knowledge.
Sustainable observation technique
This workshop is aimed at potential users of HydroGNSS measurements for climate and meteorological models, researchers working in complementary EO missions, and those with an interest in GNSS reflectometry as a future Earth observation technique sustainable through the use of small satellite constellations.