UAS-based P-band signals of opportunity for remote sensing of snow and root zone soil moisture

Simon Yueh; Rashmi Shah; Xiaolan Xu; Kelly Elder; Steve Margulis; Glen Liston; Michael Durand; Chris Derksen; Jack Elston

doi:10.1117/12.2325819

25 September 2018 UAS-based P-band signals of opportunity for remote sensing of snow and root zone soil moisture

Simon Yueh, Rashmi Shah, Xiaolan Xu, Kelly Elder, Steve Margulis, Glen Liston, Michael Durand, Chris Derksen, Jack Elston

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10785, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XXII; 107850B (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2325819
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2018, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

We have developed the P-band Signals of Opportunity (SoOp) sensor based on the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to remotely sense Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and Root Zone Soil Moisture (RZSM). The P-band UAS SoOp sensor for Hydrology (UASHydro) would operate on the S2 aircraft developed by Black Swift Technologies for sensing of SWE and RZSM with a spatial resolution of about 10m. Root-zone soil moisture and snow water storage in land are critical parameters of the water cycle. The long-term goal of our development would be to use small UAS to perform regional high resolution observation of two key hydrological measurements to improve the estimation of terrestrial water storage for water management, crop production and forecasts of natural hazard. The UASHydro concept utilizes passive receivers to detect the reflection of strong existing P-band radio signals at the 360-380 MHz band from geostationary Mobile Use Objective System (MUOS) communication satellites launched by the US Navy. The SWE remote sensing measurement principle using the P-band SoOp is based on the propagation delay (or phase change) of radio signals through the snowpack. The time delay of the reflected signal due to the snowpack with respect to snow-free conditions is directly proportional to the snowpack SWE, while the soil moisture can be retrieved from the reflectivity at the P-band frequencies for MUOS. We have been conducting ground-based campaigns to test the instrumentation and data processing methods at the Fraser Experimental Forest in Colorado since February 2016. The field campaign data has provided support to the measurement concept. To install the SoOp technologies on the UAS, a lightweight antenna has been built and interfaces with the S2 built by Black Swift Technologies have been completed. A set of flights have been planned starting April 2018 through the end of 2018 in Colorado.

Citation Download Citation

Simon Yueh, Rashmi Shah, Xiaolan Xu, Kelly Elder, Steve Margulis, Glen Liston, Michael Durand, Chris Derksen, and Jack Elston "UAS-based P-band signals of opportunity for remote sensing of snow and root zone soil moisture", Proc. SPIE 10785, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XXII, 107850B (25 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2325819

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