Satellite Altimetry: Principles and Applications in Earth Sciences

• Main Authors: Frappart, Frédéric, Blumstein, Denis, Cazenave, Anny, Ramillien, Guillaume, Birol, Florence, Morrow, Rosemary, Rémy, Frédérique
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2017
• Subjects: Arctic; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/047134608x.w1125.pub2; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2F047134608X.W1125.pub2; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/047134608X.W1125.pub2

Abstract Satellite altimetry is a radar technique measuring the topography of the Earth surface. It was initially designed for the measuring of the topography of the sea surface with reference to an ellipsoid and for the determination of the marine geoid. It also provided valuable information on the ocean circulation. With the improvement of the orbit accuracy from the meter to the centimeter level, satellite altimetry has become a key measurement to estimate sea level variations from regional to global scales. Satellite altimetry is mostly used over the ocean to measure the surface geostrophic currents, eddy structures, wave heights, and the propagation of oceanic Kelvin and Rossby waves. Altimetry has also demonstrated a strong potential for ice and hydrology studies and is now commonly used for the monitoring of the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets topography and of terrestrial surface water levels.