Phase Altimetry Using Reflected Signals From BeiDou GEO Satellites

With the development of the Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system, the applications of BeiDou reflected (BeiDou-R) signals would play a key role in Global Navigation Satellite System reflected signals. Different from other navigation systems, the BeiDou satellite navigation system has certain unique characteristics, and the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite is one of them. The aim of this letter is to prove the feasibility of coastal ocean phase altimetry using BeiDou GEO reflected signals. The coastal experiment was performed from October 18, 2014, to October 19, 2014, in Dayang Shan, Zhejiang, China. This is the first coastal ocean phase altimetry experiment using BeiDou GEO reflected signals. The phase altimetry results can invert the slope of ocean surface height variation (in time), and its highest accuracy can reach centimeter level.