Potential of GNSS reflectometry for freeze-thaw monitoring: A study of TechDemoSat-1 data

The monitoring of the freeze/thaw dynamic of high-latitude Earth regions is of paramount importance for the study of the carbon cycle and the climate changes. Current approaches essentially rely on the use of active and passive microwave remote sensing, while limited work has been dedicated to study the potential of the Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry technique based on spaceborne platforms. In this contribution, reflectivity values derived from the TechDemoSat-1 data have been collected and elaborated, to be compared against the SMAP freeze/thaw product. The proposed analysis indicates a significant seasonal cycle of freeze/thaw state in the calibrated reflectivity, thus opening new perspectives for the bistatic L-band high-resolution satellite monitoring of the freeze/thaw state.