Impacts of Spaceborne GNSS-R System Observations on Storm Surge Prediction: A Hurricane Harvey Case Study Using CYGNSS Full DDM Downlinks

Abstract

This work assesses the impact of the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) (full delay-Doppler map) informed wind fields on storm surge simulations using the constellation's storm observations. In order to assess the impact of the CYGNSS-enhanced wind fields, storm surge simulations are performed with the ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) model and validation studies are performed with high water mark data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey. To provide context for the CYGNSS-based results, comparisons to storm surge predictions using Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2,wind fields are also performed using the example of hurricane Harvey. In this initial assessment, it is observed that augmenting existing wind estimates with information provided by Global Navigation Satellite Systems Reflectometry systems, such as CYGNSS, has the potential of improving surge predictions relative to existing sources of wind information.

Keywords

• Bistatic radar systems
• Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS)
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems Reflectometry (GNSS-R)
• remote sensing
• sea surface scatter
• tropical cyclones