Journal of Radio Electronics. eISSN 1684-1719. 2025. ¹12
Full text in Russian (pdf)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30898/1684-1719.2025.12.1
APPLICATION OF GLOBAL
NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM SIGNALS
FOR DETERMINING TIDAL HEIGHT AND SNOW DEPTH
V.F. Fateev, V.P. Lopatin, D.A. Artyushchev
Russian Metrological Instute of Technical Physics and Radio Engineering
141570, Moscow region, Mendeleevo
The paper was received October 23, 2025.
Abstract. The bistatic method, which utilizes signals of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) that are reflected from the Earth's surface, demonstrates great potential for determining and monitoring various geophysical parameters of the reflecting surface. This paper focuses on a single specific approach of GNSS reflectometry called the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) monitoring technique. This method based on observation of periodic oscillations in the SNR value of a sum direct and reflected signal, caused by their alternating in-phase and out-of-phase interference. The study presents the necessary theoretical basis for this method. Primary data from international GNSS stations were processed using this technique to derive tidal heights and snow depth. The results were compared with data obtained by traditional measurement methods. The comparison demonstrates a high correlation coefficient exceeding 0.8 and an accuracy at the level of a few centimeters. These findings confirm the suitability of the GNSS-based bistatic radar method for applications in tidal height and snow depth estimation.
Key words: bistatic radar, global navigation satellite systems, GNSS reflectometry, tide gauge, tides, snow depth.
Financing: The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project ¹ 23-67-10007), https://rscf.ru/project/23-67-10007/.
Corresponding author: Lopatin Vladislav Pavlovich, lopatin@vniiftri.ru
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For citation:
Fateev V.F., Lopatin V.P., Artyushchev D.A. Application of global navigation satellite system signals for determining tidal height and snow depth. // Journal of Radio Electronics. – 2025. – ¹. 12. https://doi.org/10.30898/1684-1719.2025.12.1 (In Russian)