GNSS-R Ice Sheet Altimetry in Greenland Using TDS-1 Data

Abstract

Radar altimetry provides valuable measurements to characterize the state and the evolution of the Antartica and Greenland ice sheet cover. Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) has the potential capacity of complementing the dedicated radar altimeters incrementing the temporal and spatial resolution of the surface height measurements. In this work we perform an study of the Greenland ice sheet using data obtained by the GNSS-R instrument aboard the British TechDemoSat-1 (TDS-1) satellite mission, designed primarily to provide sea state information, like sea surface roughness or wind, but not altimetric products. The data has been analyzed with altimetric methodologies, already proved in aircraft based experiments, to extract signal delay observables to be used to infer the topography of the Greenland cover. The penetration depth of the GNSS signals into ice has also considered. The topographic signal obtained is consistent with those obtained with other passive or active microwave sensors. The main conclusion derived from this work is that GNSS-R also provides valuable measurements of the ice sheet cover and, as taken at a variety of geometries and at least two frequency bands, they prospect different depths into the ice. They have thus potential to complement our understanding of the ice firn and its evolution.

Study on the Biodegradation of Poly(Butylene Succinate)/Wheat Bran Biocomposites

“…The tested biocomposite was made of a poly(butylene succinate) matrix and a wheat bran biofiller. PBS in pellet form, with the trade name BioPBS FZ91 PB [80], was supplied by PTT MCC BIOCHEM Co., LTD. (Bangkok, Thailand). Wheat bran (WB), i.e., wheat grain husks in the form of thin flakes up to a few mm in size, was obtained from a mill near the city of Lublin (Poland).…”