Ajoniloju et al. (2026) CYGNSS Soil Moisture Performance in Guinea Savanna Region: Extended and Quadruple Collocation Evidence from Benue State, Nigeria

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Identification

• Journal: Remote Sensing
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-22
• Authors: Samuel Olatunde Ajoniloju, Sheikh Tawhidul Islam, Caleb I. Kelly, Abdul-Sobbur Maltiti Alhassan
• DOI: 10.3390/rs18193267

Research Groups

• Department of Agricultural Meteorology, University of Nigeria
• Climate Change Initiative, European Space Agency
• National Centre for Atmospheric Science, UK

Short Summary

This study evaluates the reliability of Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) Level 3 soil moisture product in Guinea savanna agriculture over Benue State, Nigeria. The results indicate that CYGNSS should not be used as a standalone drought-monitoring product due to its limitations.

Objective

• Evaluate the performance of CYGNSS Level 3 soil moisture product in Guinea savanna agriculture

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional (Benue State, Nigeria)
• Temporal Scale: 2021-2023

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Extended Triple Collocation (ETC), Covariance-pathway Quadruple Collocation (QC)
• Data sources:
  • CYGNSS Level 3 soil moisture product
  • Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Enhanced Level 3 product
  • European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts fifth-generation land reanalysis (ERA5-Land)
  • European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative active microwave soil moisture product (ESA CCI ACTIVE)

Main Results

• CYGNSS estimated latent correlation: r=0.425
• Estimated error standard deviation: 0.036m3m−3
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): −6.56 dB
• Performance was weakest under dry soils (r=0.331)
• Skill was higher over cropland (r=0.447), shrubland or grassland (r=0.455), and moderate precipitation conditions (r=0.630)

Contributions

This study provides new insights into the limitations of CYGNSS Level 3 soil moisture product in Guinea savanna agriculture, highlighting its potential as part of environment-aware, bias-corrected, multi-sensor systems.

Funding

• This research was funded by the UK's National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative.

Citation

@article{Ajoniloju2026CYGNSS,
  author = {Ajoniloju, Samuel Olatunde and Islam, Sheikh Tawhidul and Kelly, Caleb I. and Alhassan, Abdul-Sobbur Maltiti},
  title = {CYGNSS Soil Moisture Performance in Guinea Savanna Region: Extended and Quadruple Collocation Evidence from Benue State, Nigeria},
  journal = {Remote Sensing},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/rs18193267},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18193267}
}