Tianmu-1 Constellation: Advancements in Atmospheric, Ionospheric and Surface Remote Sensing Using GNSS-RO and GNSS-R
A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Satellite Missions for Earth and Planetary Exploration".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 124
Special Issue Editors
Interests: GNSS RO applications; data assimilation; numerical weather forecast
Interests: GNSS-reflectometry; microwave radiometry; bistatic scattering; SmallSats; planetary sciences; water cycle; carbon cycle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: GNSS-R; ocean wind; data assimilation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The Tianmu-1 constellation represents a significant advancement in commercial satellite systems dedicated to Earth observations. Rapidly deployed through multiple launches starting in late 2021 and now numbering 23 satellites, Tianmu-1 carries the GNOS-M payload with multi-GNSS-compatible (BDS, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS) Radio Occultation (RO) and GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R). The GNSS-RO component provides crucial global, all-weather, high-vertical-resolution atmospheric profiles for improving numerical weather prediction (NWP) and climate monitoring. Simultaneously, the GNSS-R component offers valuable data for sensing surface characteristics such as soil moisture and sea states. This constellation’s ongoing expansion and unique integrated GNSS remote sensing nature present substantial opportunities and challenges for the remote sensing community.
This Special Issue aims to gather and showcase cutting-edge research focused on the Tianmu-1 constellation. We encourage submissions covering its full spectrum of activities, from fundamental aspects encompassing precise orbit determination (POD) and instrument data processing chain development (for both RO and GNSS-R) to advanced geophysical parameter retrieval, data assimilation techniques, and diverse scientific applications. Investigating the capabilities, data quality, and innovative uses of this new constellation directly aligns with the scope of Remote Sensing, which fosters advancements in remote sensing technologies, satellite missions, data processing algorithms, and their applications in understanding the Earth’s system.
We welcome submissions of original research articles and comprehensive review papers. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Precise Orbit Determination (POD) strategies and performance for Tianmu-1 satellites.
- Development, calibration, and validation of Tianmu-1 GNSS-RO data processing chains.
- Retrieval algorithms for atmospheric parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure, humidity, electron density) from Tianmu-1 RO data.
- Assimilation of Tianmu-1 RO data into NWP, climate, and ionospheric models.
- Meteorological, climatological, and space weather applications using Tianmu-1 RO observations.
- Development, calibration, and validation of Tianmu-1 GNSS-R data processing chains.
- Retrieval algorithms for geophysical parameters (e.g., soil moisture, sea surface height, wind speed, sea ice characteristics) from Tianmu-1 GNSS-R data.
- Assimilation of Tianmu-1 GNSS-R data into land surface, oceanographic, or atmospheric models.
- Hydrological, oceanographic, cryospheric, and terrestrial applications using Tianmu-1 GNSS-R observations.
- Synergistic studies utilizing both GNSS-RO and GNSS-R data from Tianmu-1.
- Validation and assessment of Tianmu-1 data products.
Dr. Shengpeng Yang
Dr. Hugo Carreno-Luengo
Dr. Feixiong Huang
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- GNSS-RO applications
- data assimilation
- numerical weather forecast
- ocean wind
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