[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/slider-comunicacio.jpg” max_height=”130px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”24px||11px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Unitats de recerca” module_class=”ieec-orgs” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfb3JnYW5pemFjaW9uZXMiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImVuYWJsZV9odG1sIjoib2ZmIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title author=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”T\u00edtol i data” module_class=”ieec-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Cairo|300|||||||” title_font_size=”40px” meta_font=”||on||||||” meta_font_size=”16px” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subt\u00edtols” module_class=”ieec-summary” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Source Sans Pro||on||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.1em” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”22px” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
\u2022 The mission has entered full science phase after an eight-month commissioning period, which confirms the satellites and ground segment are ready for routine operations<\/span> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title title=”off” meta=”off” module_class=”ieec-img-container” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” border_width_top=”10px” border_color_top=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Illustration of ESA\u2019s Scout HydroGNSS mission. <\/span>ESA\/ATG Medialab<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The <\/span>HydroGNSS<\/span><\/a> Scout mission of the <\/span>European Space Agency<\/span><\/a> (ESA), in which the <\/span>Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) is involved, has completed the commissioning phase and is now in full scientific operations. It was launched in November 2025 to observe key hydrological variables from space using the Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) technique.<\/span><\/p>\n Following extensive testing and validation of the two satellites, instruments and ground segment, <\/span>HydroGNSS data<\/span><\/a> are now freely available to the scientific community and users worldwide, opening new opportunities to advance our understanding of water availability and the impacts of climate change on Earth’s water cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n The mission captures L-band signals transmitted by navigation satellites such as GPS and <\/span>Galileo<\/span><\/a>, Europe\u2019s own civilian-controlled GNSS, after they have reflected off Earth’s surface. By comparing these reflected signals with those received directly from the navigation satellites, HydroGNSS can derive information on soil moisture, inundation and wetlands (surface waters), freeze\u2013thaw dynamics, and above-ground biomass, helping scientists better understand the processes shaping our changing planet.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Over the last eight months, mission teams, including the one made up of IEEC researchers at the <\/span>Institute of Space Sciences<\/span><\/a> (ICE-CSIC), have carefully evaluated the satellites’ performance, verified the instruments, and calibrated the data products to ensure they meet mission requirements. The successful completion of commissioning confirms that the satellites and ground segment are performing as expected and are ready for routine operations.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAfter years of intense work preparing the mission, for which we have contributed since the beginning\u2014mission conception, suggestion of a new high-resolution observation mode, scientific and technical assessment as well as development of the surface inundation product, we are now thrilled to see the results being delivered to the scientific community,\u201d says<\/span> Estel Cardellach, IEEC researcher at the ICE-CSIC, and <\/span>pioneer in the study and development of the GNSS reflectometry technique<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are convinced these datasets will foster new science relevant to hydrology and climate, while supporting emergency situations due to extreme floods,\u201d she adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n IEEC researchers at the ICE-CSIC have developed and implemented\u2014and are now maintaining\u2014the <\/span>algorithms for surface water detection<\/b>, what is called the surface inundation and wetlands product. These algorithms run operationally at the payload data ground segment to deliver, in short latency, the locations with presence of water over land, due to permanent water bodies, flooding, inundation or wetlands\u2019 extension.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The GNSS-R technique has the capacity to detect surface water during day and night, in all weather conditions and even under extremely thick vegetation canopies. The Earth Observation research group at ICE-CSIC, to which Estel Cardellach and Weiqiang Li belong, has over 20 years of experience in this innovative technique that complements traditional approaches, such as optical imaging or synthetic aperture radars, which present limitations or are one to two orders of magnitude more expensive.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Figure.png” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”-3px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Side by side comparison between HydroGNSS high sampling rate coherent coefficient and fraction of the HydroGNSS pixel surface covered by water, as estimated from the Global Flood Monitoring product (based on Sentinel-1 SAR images).<\/span> IEEC, ICE-CSIC.<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n \u201cWe present two images to show HydroGNSS\u2019 ability to detect surface water at high resolution, including beneath vegetation canopies. <\/span><\/p>\n Knowing the presence or absence of water under forest canopies is important to help track methane gas,\u201d says Weiqiang Li, ICE-CSIC and IEEC researcher.<\/span><\/p>\n The left image shows measurements from HydroGNSS\u2019 coherent channel, a key feature of the mission, which uses the behaviour of reflected GNSS signals to identify water surfaces. <\/span><\/p>\n The data are collected along satellite tracks at 300 m resolution, with observations from both satellites combined over time to build a more complete picture.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The right image shows a global flood map generated using C-band radar data from Sentinel-1<\/span> over the same region. Unlike GNSS-R, <\/span>radar signals can have difficulty detecting water beneath dense vegetation<\/b>. \u201cThis is an example of how much more information can be gathered using GNSS-R that cannot be obtained using other techniques,\u201d adds Weiqiang Li.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n HydroGNSS therefore provides <\/span>a new way to observe wetlands hidden below forest canopies<\/b>, helping improve estimates of these important ecosystems and their role in the global carbon cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n As ESA’s first Scout mission, developed under the Earth Observation FutureEO programme, HydroGNSS exemplifies the NewSpace approach. The Scout programme enables innovative mission concepts and emerging satellite technologies to be developed and demonstrated rapidly and cost-effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n Using this approach, the mission was developed for ESA by <\/span>Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd<\/span><\/a> (SSTL), which designed, built and now operates the two satellites. SSTL developed an advanced instrument capable of exploiting multiple GNSS constellations, frequencies and polarisations to deliver enhanced environmental observations on soil moisture, flooding and wetlands, seasonal freeze\u2013thaw conditions, and vegetation, supporting research into the global water cycle and its response to climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n Research centres and universities have worked along SSTL, such as the IEEC, ICE-CSIC, Sapienza and Tor Vergata University of Rome, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Istituto di Fisica Applicata \u201cNello Carrara\u201d (IFAC-CNR), National Oceanography Centre (NOC), University of Nottingham and Technical University Vienna.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”M\u00e9s informaci\u00f3” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n More information<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on||||” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Users can find more information about HydroGNSS data products and register for access through the <\/span>HydroGNSS website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Enlla\u00e7os” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Enlla\u00e7os<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n IEEC<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contactes” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Contacts<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ module_class=”ieec-contact-col” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-contact” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#1a1140″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Castelldefels, Barcelona [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”ieec-contact-col” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-contact” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#1a1140″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=”ieec-about” module_class=”about-ieec” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” global_module=”17324″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px|50px|20px|50px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sobre l’IEEC” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) promotes and coordinates space research and technology development in Catalonia for the benefit of society. IEEC fosters collaborations both locally and worldwide and is an efficient agent of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer. As a result of 30 years of high-quality research, done in collaboration with major international organisations, IEEC ranks among the best international research centres, focusing on areas such as: astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, and Earth Observation. IEEC\u2019s engineering division develops instrumentation for ground- and space-based projects, and has extensive experience in working with private or public organisations from the aerospace and other innovation sectors.<\/p>\n The IEEC is a non-profit public sector foundation that was established in February 1996. It has a Board of Trustees composed of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya \u00b7 BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). The IEEC is also a CERCA centre.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HydroGNSS can derive information on soil moisture, inundation and wetlands (surface waters), freeze\u2013thaw dynamics, and above-ground biomass.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":48407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[110,121,98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlighted-news-big","category-newspace-en","category-science"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u2022 HydroGNSS can derive information on soil moisture, inundation and wetlands (surface waters), freeze\u2013thaw dynamics, and above-ground biomass<\/span>
\u2022 IEEC researchers at the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC) developed and maintain the algorithms that detect surface waters using innovative GNSS reflectometry techniques<\/span><\/p>\nScouting for water under forest canopies<\/span><\/h2>\n
Measuring Earth\u2019s water cycle from space<\/span><\/h2>\n
ICE-CSIC<\/a>
HydroGNSS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nIEEC Communication Office<\/h4>\n
E-mail: comunicacio@ieec.cat<\/a><\/p>\nLead Researcher at the IEEC<\/h4>\n
Estel Cardellach<\/h4>\n
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)
E-mail: estel@ieec.cat<\/a>, estel.cardellach@csic.es<\/a><\/p>\nAbout the IEEC<\/h2>\n