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Chapter 1 Satellite Altimetry

2001; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0074-6142(01)80146-7

2212-1218

Dudley B. Chelton, John Ries, Bruce Haines, Lee‐Lueng Fu, Philip S. Callahan,

Geophysics and Gravity Measurements

The basic concept of satellite altimetry is to measure the range from the satellite to the sea surface. The altimeter transmits a short pulse of microwave radiation with known power toward the sea surface. The pulse interacts with the rough sea surface and a part of the incident radiation reflects back to the altimeter. The chapter emphasizes on the correction algorithms applied to the dual-frequency altimeter onboard the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) satellite. This state-of-the-art altimeter sets the standard for future altimeter missions as it is significantly more accurate than any of the other altimeters that have been launched to date. To provide assurance that the performance requirements for altimeter measurement accuracy are met or exceeded, extensive calibration and validation (cal/val) are important elements of altimeter missions. Cal/val embraces a wide variety of activities, ranging from the interpretation of information from internal-calibration modes of the sensors to the validation of the fully corrected sea-level estimates using in situ data. The chapter concludes with a summary of the T/P mission design and an assessment of the performance of the T/P dual-frequency altimeter in addition, as well as an overview of future altimeter missions.