Results of determining the geoid height profile and vertical line deviation using GNSS signals reflected from water surface

The method for determining geoid elevations, based on the use of GNSS signals reflected from water surface, is called bistatic one. Its features are small dimensions and weight of the necessary on-board equipment, and that enables mounting them on a nano-satellite, as well as simultaneously determining several dozen geoid height profiles. It corresponds to the number of visible navigation satellites from among GLONASS, GPS, Galileo, BeiDou. Several space projects using the technology under description were implemented abroad, their analysis has shown the possibility of determining geoid heights with an error of 10–20 cm, as well as sea ice thickness. The authors provide a review of some similar projects, an assessment of the simultaneously determined number of geoid height profiles, and calculation of its elevations and deflection of vertical along a single profile based on primary measurements from the project of CYGNSS. To compensate for various interfering parameters when calculating geoid elevations, the following models were used