Assessing L-Band GNSS-Reflectometry and Imaging Radar for Detecting Sub-Canopy Inundation Dynamics in a Tropical Wetlands Complex

Abstract

Despite the growing number of remote-sensing products from satellite sensors, mapping of the combined spatial distribution and temporal variability of inundation in tropical wetlands remains challenging. An emerging innovative approach is offered by Global Navigation Satellite System reflectometry (GNSS-R), a concept that takes advantage of GNSS-transmitting satellites and independent radar receivers to provide bistatic radar observations of Earth’s surface with large-scale coverage. The objective of this paper is to assess the capability of spaceborne GNSS reflections to characterize surface inundation dynamics in a complex wetlands environment in the Peruvian Amazon with respect to current state-of-the-art methods. This study examines contemporaneous ALOS2 PALSAR-2 L-band imaging radar, CYGNSS GNSS reflections, and ground measurements to assess associated advantages and challenges to mapping inundation dynamics, particularly in regions under dense tropical forest canopies. Three derivatives of CYGNSS Delay-Doppler maps (1) peak signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), (2) leading edge slope, and (3) trailing edge slope, demonstrated statistically significant logarithmic relationships with estimated flooded area percentages determined from SAR, with SNR exhibiting the strongest association. Aggregated Delay-Doppler maps SNR time series data examined for inundated regions undetected by imaging radar suggests GNSS-R exhibits a potentially greater sensitivity to inundation state beneath dense forest canopies relative to SAR. Results demonstrate the capability for mapping extent and dynamic wetlands ecosystems in complex tropical landscapes, alone or in combination with other remote-sensing techniques such as those based on imaging radar, contributing to enhanced mapping of these regions. However, several aspects of GNSS-R observations such as noise level, spatial resolution, and signal coherence need to be further examined.