• Login
• Admin

Haile, Helen (2025) Preliminary system design for the development of CubeSat with GNSS-reflectometry (GNSS-R) payload for monitoring sea level change. MRes thesis, University of Nottingham.

Preview

PDF (Preliminary System Design for the Development of CubeSat with GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) Payload for Monitoring Sea Level Change) (Thesis - as examined) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader Available under Licence All Rights Reserved. Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Global warming is causing a rapid rise in sea levels. This is particularly pressing as the impacts are causing flooding, salinisation, extreme weather and sea temperature, and threatening food security. The impacts are particularly severe for communities in the global south and developing countries due to significant social and economic injustice. With approximately 600 million people living in coastal regions globally, the potential submerges in this area could lead to further economic impact and increase the social and economic effects felt in the global south and coast area.

This project aims to assess the feasibility of cost-effective, compact, and capable CubeSats in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) that can measure levels daily. This approach will enhance our understanding and monitor sea level change. Over the past 30 years, satellite missions have contributed significantly to sea level rise altimetry, providing long-term observational records and offering a better understanding of sea level changes across oceans and seas. However, traditional Ocean altimetry relies on large, costly satellites designed primarily for open ocean research and struggles to capture altimetry in coastal regions with the necessary spatial and shorter temporal scales.

To address this gap in consistent, reliable altimetry in coastal areas, the CubeSats will utilise GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R). GNSS-R is an innovative remote sensing technique with a higher temporal and spatial resolution than traditional radar altimetry.

The mission will deploy eight CubeSat 6u on a single orbital plane, with a spacing of 45° between them. All the satellites will be placed in Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 550km, providing 15 revisit times per day for one satellite revisit time.

The feasibility indicates that GNSS-R provides a promising alternative to traditional innovative remote sensing, offering reduced mass and power requirements. This will offer a cost-effective sea-level measurement approach

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (MRes)
Supervisors:	Cappelletti, C.
Keywords:	cubesat
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GC Oceanography
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering
Item ID:	80683
Depositing User:	haile, Helen
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2025 04:40
Last Modified:	28 Jul 2025 04:40
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/80683

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View