Title: GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry: Applications to Sea Level and Ice Thickness Measurements
Abstract:
Elevation measurements provide fundamental information about Earth’s surface and the processes that shape it. Global Navigation Satellite System Interferometric Reflectometry (GNSS-IR) is a remote sensing technique capable of measuring elevation and related geophysical variables over planar reflecting surfaces, and it has been widely applied to water level observations. Compared with traditional tide gauges, GNSS-IR measurements are directly referenced to a global geodetic frame and are not affected by instrumental drift.
This presentation introduces two GNSS-IR case studies focused on coastal ocean surface observations. In both cases, GNSS-IR performs comparably to conventional tide gauges in resolving diurnal and semi-diurnal tidal constituents, as well as interannual sea-level variability. In polar regions, when combined with datum-controlled tide gauges, GNSS-IR can also provide high-temporal-resolution observations of sea ice freeboard, enabling the estimation of sea ice thickness. These results highlight the potential of GNSS-IR as a versatile and robust tool for monitoring sea level and cryospheric changes.
Biography: Surui Xie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston. His research emphasizes the use of geodetic techniques to study several Earth processes near the land margins, including crustal deformation in subduction zones, sea level change and land subsidence in coastal areas, as well as changes in the cryosphere
Contact: sxie9@central.uh.edu