Improving the Specular Point Positioning Accuracy of Ship-Borne GNSS-R Observations in China Seas Based on Comprehensive Geophysical Correction

Abstract

The accurate modeled GNSS-R reflection delay, which is indispensable for the quantification, modeling, and correction of the GNSS-R altimetry sea-state bias, can be obtained based on the accurate modeled position of the specular point. At present, the reflection surface model of the specular point positioning still has the mean dynamic topography (MDT) error and the deviation of the vertical (DOV) error relative to the instantaneous sea surface. In this study, the following studies have been carried out. Based on the ship-borne GNSS-R observations in China seas, we introduced various elevation parameters including the MDT to correct the elevation error of the reflection surface. We introduced the DOV based on the elevation correction, and the DOV correction positioning method was proposed to correct the slope error of the reflection surface. The specular point was positioned on the instantaneous sea reflection surface. We verified the instantaneous sea reflection surface model and the specular point positioning results, analyzed the relationship between the position correction distance and the reflection incident angle, and discussed the spatial distribution characteristics of the MDT correction distance. The results showed that the reflection surface modeling and the specular point positioning were accurate. The positioning error increased to varying degrees with the increase of the reflection incident angle. The MDT correction improved the positioning by 0.91 m, and the DOV correction further improved the positioning by 0.12 m. Based on the combined application of the two kinds of correction positioning, the positioning was comprehensively improved by 0.99 m. The MDT correction of China seas gradually increased from the north to south. While in the regional sea areas, it gradually decreased from the north to south and showed randomness. The relative position between the antennas and their random changes introduced uncertainty, which can be reduced by integration. The new instantaneous sea reflection surface model and the corresponding specular point positioning method can provide accurate modeled reflection delay for the sea-state bias correction of ship-borne GNSS-R observations, and they can be extended to satellite-borne global observations.