Radar Altimetry
Abstract The article reviews ocean‐observing radar altimeters hosted on spacecraft in low‐Earth orbit. These instruments measure sea surface topography on global and mesoscales to a height accuracy of a few centimeters. Flight missions since 1973 to the present are summarized. The conventional pulse...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1999
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/047134608x.w1125 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/047134608X.W1125 |
| Summary: | Abstract The article reviews ocean‐observing radar altimeters hosted on spacecraft in low‐Earth orbit. These instruments measure sea surface topography on global and mesoscales to a height accuracy of a few centimeters. Flight missions since 1973 to the present are summarized. The conventional pulse‐limited full‐deramp modulation technique is illustrated by the design of the TOPEX altimeter. The advanced delay‐Doppler technique is explained, whose benefits extend to ice‐sheet altimetry (CryoSat), and to improved measurement of oceanic gravity anomalies, hence bathymetry. The article concludes with comments on future directions. Radar Altimeter Satellites Global Dynamic Topography‐Accuracy Theoretical Foundations Deramp on Receive The Topex Design Gravity and Bathymetry‐Precision Delay‐Doppler Future Directions WSOA |
|---|