GPS scatterometry and reflectometry are regarded as valuable new techniques in the field of altimetry, oceanography and glaciography The high reflectivity of GPS signals in the frequency range of L-Band (1,2 and 1,6 GHz) on water, as well as iced and snow covered surfaces, partly compensates for the low signal intensity and allows the detection of reflected signal components.

Experiences with special Delay Mapping GPS Receivers in balloons and planes have demonstrated, that measurements of the sea level can be achieved with an accuracy of up to 5 cm. Only recently, has the extraction of altimetric height information of CHAMP occultation events been capable of being proven with a sensitivity in the decimetre range.

GFZ therefore suggests developing GPS occultation, reflectometry and scatterometry (GORS) receiver technology based on COTS, on the basis of a low flying mini-satellite constellation as a quintessential instrument for a future tsunami detection system. That is why the scientific and operation-specific demands on GPS altimetry measurements for satellite missions, as well as an architecture specific design concept, are to be developed. Furthermore, the ramifications for satellite missions, their operation and design, as well as for GPS receivers and antennas, must be evaluated to be able to design corresponding measures.

Within the context of GITEWS, a feasibility study is being performed on tsunami detection and warning from space using GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R). GNSS-R uses existing signals from navigation satellite systems (Global Navigation Satellite Systems). GNSS signals that are reflected from the sea surface can be used for measuring the height of the sea surface and also allow conclusions to be drawn about the scattering properties of the sea surface for the purposes of scatterometry. GNSS-R receivers on low-flying satellite constellations can therefore be regarded as multistatic altimeters, which observe the sea surface at many reflection points simultaneously searching for tsunami wave signatures. A main topic of this feasibility study is the mission design for a GNSS-R receiver satellite constellation at a low orbit. Therefore, studies on scanning width and spatial resolution with respect to angle of incidence of the signals, the flight height of the receiver system and the type of GNSS system (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO) have been conducted. They show, that the spatial resolution increases when signals of different GNSS systems can be received simultaneously and that the scanning width is highest for reflections at low angles of incidence. Another emphasis of the study is determining the altimetric precision that can be achieved. For this, simulations of the signal reflections are performed using a scattering model.

The experiment was - conducted on 17–19 July, 2007, 50 km south of Munich, Germany, in the Bavarian alpine upland at the mountain top of Fahrenberg (11.32°E, 47.61°N, 1625 m above sea level) with an unobstructed view to Lake Kochel and Lake Walchen. The reflections from Lake Kochel and Lake Walchen, which are situated 1026 m and 824 m, respectively below the Fahrenberg, were recorded. For the test, a conventional GPS patch antenna was mounted on a tripod and tilted by 45° from zenith direction to allow for direct and reflected GPS signal reception in parallel. Depending on the predicted reflection event, the tilted antenna was aligned toward Lake Kochel and toward Lake Walchen, respectively. During a reflection event, the master channel tracked the direct signal, while the slave channel recorded the reflected signal with a pre-set delay. The receiver records the I and Q vectors of the L1-C/A and L2C signal with a data rate of 200 Hz. From this, the difference in path length between direct and reflected signal was able to be calculated for both GPS carrier frequencies. From the changing path length difference, the altimetric height of the reflective sea surface was able to be calculated.