Radio frequency interference in microwave radiometry: statistical analysis and study of techniques for detection and mitigation

Abstract

Microwave radiometry field has been increasing its performance with higher accuracy measurements, leading to a more
 presence in the remote sensing field. Several space-borne, air-borne and ground-based radiometers have been developed to
 perform measurement campaigns; however, the actual sensitivity of a radiometer is often limited by man-made radio emissions
 such as radars, broadcasting emissions, wireless communications and many other communication systems based on
 electromagnetic waves, limiting the improvement in the radiometers¿ performance. Consequently, in order to maintain the
 accuracy in the radiometric measurements, it has been researched in the Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) detection and
 mitigation systems and algorithms for the microwave radiometry field.
 The scope of this doctoral thesis is the development and testing of RFI detection and mitigation algorithms in order to enhance
 radiometric measurements performed by the Multifequency Experimental Radiometer with Interference Tracking for
 Experiments over Land and Littoral (MERITXELL). The MERITXELL has been developed during this thesis with the idea
 studying the RFI present in several radiometric bands and the way to mitigate it, as well as to obtain data from diverse
 frequency bands and devices in only one measurement campaign.