Abstract The recently launched TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter mission is expected to achieve an unprecedented accuracy in the measurement of the absolute sea level, demonstrating that satellite radar altimetry has evolved into one of the fundamental instruments for providing synoptic observations of the global oceans with a temporal sampling of a few days to a month. This paper assesses the current estimated accuracy of the available satellite radar altimeter measurement systems in observing the absolute sea level. The accuracy of absolute sea level measurements depends on the ability to compute accurate orbits of the altimetric satellites, the fidelity of the terrestrial reference system, and the knowledge of instrument biases of the altimeter instruments. Some applications of satellite altimetry to contemporary problems in marine geodesy, oceanography, and global change studies are discussed. Major advances for many of these problems are feasible with the abundance of satellite altimetry missions within this decade. The launch of ERS-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON has initiated a decade of high accuracy measurements of the absolute sea level from satellite altimetry which holds potential for enhancing our knowledge of the global ocean, and its influence on the global climate changes.


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    Title :

    Satellite altimetry: Its applications and accuracy assessment


    Contributors:
    Shum, C.K. (author) / Tapley, B.D. (author) / Ries, J.C. (author)

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 13 , 11 ; 315-324


    Publication date :

    1993-01-01


    Size :

    10 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Satellite Altimetry: Its Applications and Accuracy Assessment

    Shum, C. K. / Tapley, B. D. / Ries, J. C. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993


    Satellite altimetry applications

    McGoogan, J.T. | Tema Archive | 1975


    Satellite altimetry

    Bryan, J. W. | NTRS | 1970


    Satellite Altimetry

    J. W. Bryan | NTIS | 1970