SMAP Polarimetric GNSS Reflectometry Dataset

SMAP L1B Polarimetric GNSS Reflectometry, Version 1 provides approximately 1,200,000 observations per year of Earth's surface polarimetric properties. The dataset is derived from the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission radar, which measures reflected GPS signals in a bistatic configuration. It is produced and hosted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Estimating global soil moisture levels using normalized bistatic radar cross section and reflectivity parameters.
• Analyzing sea ice extent and properties through polarimetric Stokes parameters derived from reflected GPS signals.
• Developing and validating models for surface scattering and dielectric properties based on horizontal and vertical polarization measurements.
• Studying temporal changes in surface reflectivity for climate and environmental monitoring.

Strengths

• Provides approximately 3,200 daily observations, enabling high temporal resolution for surface change detection.
• Represents the first full polarimetric GNSS-R dataset, offering unique horizontal and vertical polarization measurements.
• Data is sourced from the established SMAP mission, ensuring a consistent and calibrated collection method.

Limitations

• Specific column names and the exact data structure are not provided in the available metadata.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without clear terms.
• The row count and total dataset size are not specified across all platforms.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission.

Collection Method

Measured by the SMAP radar receiver in bistatic configuration, capturing horizontal and vertical components of reflected GPS signals.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-12 21:27:36.233090

Geography

Global Earth surface coverage.