Statistical Analysis of Simulated Space-Borne GNSS-R Data in Different Antenna Coverage and Installation Condition

  Objectives  Using global navigation satellite system(GNSS) reflectometry(GNSS-R) signal to do remote sensing research has become a hotspot in recent years. We has simulated Fengyun 3 E the Ⅱ generation of GNSS occultation sounder(GNOSⅡ) GNSS-R parameters, which includes the average number of specular points, the maximum number of specular points, the average distance of specular point(SP)-GNSS, the average distance of SP-low Earth orbit(LEO), the average path lost, the average incident angle on LEO and the average reflected angle on SP.

  Methods  The relationships between these simulated parameters and antenna parameters (antenna angle, beam width, and inclination direction) are analyzed, and the corresponding results are demonstrated using snow flake method.

  Results  Through the statistical analysis results, It can be easily learned the conclusion that the beam width has the maximum influence on all of these antenna observations, the antenna angle is the second, and the inclination direction has the minimum influence.

  Conclusions  The snow flake method mentioned is able to provide a new method for data analysis of GNSS-R especially space-borned ones, and may help to clear some obstacles which obstruct the successful development of corresponding payloads.