Spatial interpolation based on previously-observed behavior: a framework for interpolating spaceborne GNSS-R data from CYGNSS

ABSTRACT

This study presents a framework for spatially interpolating Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) data over land. The method, Previously-Observed Behavior Interpolation (POBI), assumes that reflectivity data can be interpolated at unsampled locations by quantifying how past observations of reflectivity at the unsampled location varied with past observations of reflectivity at nearby locations. The POBI method is able to recreate truth reflectivity maps with a mean error of 0.17 dB (standard deviation 1.96 dB) and preserves the heterogeneous and discontinuous nature of reflectivity observations. This method is useful for applications that necessitate rapidly-updated data but have some tolerance for uncertainty in interpolated points.

KEYWORDS:

• GNSS-R
• CYGNSS
• spatial interpolation

Acknowledgments

This work was generously funded by the University of Michigan under Grant 001703-00001 as part of the CYGNSS Extended Mission. The author would like to thank Dr. Peter Shellito and Amy DeCastro for their time spent providing helpful comments and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Michigan [001703-00001].