A Spectral Approach for Determining Altimeter Wind Speed Model Functions

We propose a new analytical algorithm for the estimation of wind speeds from altimeter data using the mean square slope of the ocean surface, which is obtained by integration of a widely accepted wind-wave spectrum including the gravity-capillary wave range. It indicates that the normalized radar cross section depends not only on the wind speed but also on the wave age. The wave state effect on the altimeter radar return becomes remarkable with increasing wind speed and cannot be neglected at high wind speeds. A relationship between wave age and nondimensional wave height based on buoy observational data is applied to compute the wave age using the significant wave height of ocean waves, which could be simultaneously obtained from altimeter data. Comparison with actual data shows that this new algorithm produces more reliable wind speeds than do empirical algorithms. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Applications of satellite altimetry to oceanography and geophysics

Satellite-borne altimeters have had a profound impact on geodesy, geophysics, and physical oceanography. To first order approximation, profiles of sea surface height are equivalent to the geoid and are highly correlated with seafloor topography for wavelengths less than 1000 km. Using all available Geos-3 and Seasat altimeter data, mean sea surfaces and geoid gradient maps have been computed for the Bering Sea and the South Pacific. When enhanced using hill-shading techniques, these images reveal in graphic detail the surface expression of seamounts, ridges, trenches, and fracture zones. Such maps are invaluable in oceanic regions where bathymetric data are sparse. Superimposed on the static geoid topography is dynamic topography due to ocean circulation. Temporal variability of dynamic height due to oceanic eddies can be determined from time series of repeated altimeter profiles. Maps of sea height variability and eddy kinetic energy derived from Geos-3 and Seasat altimetry in some cases represent improvements over those derived from standard oceanographic observations. Measurement of absolute dynamic height imposes stringent requirements on geoid and orbit accuracies, although existing models and data have been used to derive surprisingly realistic global circulation solutions. Further improvement will only be made when advances are made in geoid modeling and precision orbit determination. In contrast, it appears that use of altimeter data to correct satellite orbits will enable observation of basin-scale sea level variations of the type associated with climatic phenomena.     

星载海洋高度计应用对测轨精度的要求

本文通过动力海洋学的典型空间尺度与ＯＥＯ－３，ＳＥＡＳＡＴ，ＧＥＯＳＡＴ和ＴＯＰＥＸ／Ｐｏｓｅｉｄｏｎ等卫星高度计测量高度的精度作比较，将星戴高度计应用对测轨精度的要求作了总结．对大多数海洋学研究来说、应用卫星高度计数据要求测轨精度达到数十厘米     

The effect of microwave backscatter uncertainty of satellite radar altimeter accuracy

The effect of variations in ocean surface roughness characteristics with upwind/downwind direction, reported by other investigators, is used to compute radar cross section (sigmadeg) and to assess the errors which may arise in present and planned altimeter sensors. Based on an analysis of the rough surface impulse response, the uncertainty between attitude angle andsigmadegasymmetry is found to cause height errors as large as 12 cm, depending on off-nadir angles and sea state. Additionally, the previously reported data in conjunction with computed facet backscatter are found to producesigmadegcharacteristics at large off-nadir angles which are in better agreement with experimental results than those predicted by physical optics Gaussian theory.     

HY-2卫星雷达高度计时标偏差估算

卫星雷达高度计是海洋遥感监测的重要传感器之一,测高系统和定轨系统是高度计重要的组成部分。若两系统使用不同的系统时钟,则获得的轨道高度和卫星测距值之间可能会存在一个时标偏差,该时标偏差会降低卫星雷达高度计的海面高度测量精度。针对HY-2卫星雷达高度计的时标偏差问题,本文分析了时标偏差对测高精度的影响,介绍了一种使用自交叉点数据估算时标偏差值的方法,并基于HY-2卫星雷达高度计第21个周期数据开展了时标偏差修正实验。时标偏差修正后HY-2自交叉点的海面高度差值(也称"不符值")分布收敛程度有了明显的提高,其RMS均方根值从24.7 cm减小到了7.0 cm,HY-2与Jason-2互交叉点的不符值的RMS也从16.6 cm减小到了7.3 cm。这表明本文介绍的时标偏差修正方法可有效地提高HY-2卫星雷达高度计的测高精度。     

Using SARAL/AltiKa to Improve Ka-band Altimeter Measurements for Coastal Zones,Hydrology and Ice: The PEACHI Prototype

Following the successful launch of the SARAL space mission in February 2013, the reliability of the innovative AltiKa altimeter has been demonstrated for deep ocean applications, where Ka-band performances are excellent. With the objective to ensure the complementarity but also the continuity with the altimeter Level-2 products provided in the open ocean, the Prototype for Expertise on AltiKa for Coastal, Hydrology and Ice (PEACHI) project has been set up as an initiative of the French space agency, CNES, to provide a data set of research-grade Level-2 parameters that might be interesting for SARAL secondary objectives on the study of coastal dynamics, inland waters, polar oceans, or continental and sea ices. Thus, the PEACHI prototype has been developed to process and accurately tune dedicated algorithms for the assessment of Ka-band parameters, from the instrument processing to geophysical corrections. As a result, the PEACHI prototype routinely provides end users with new or improved altimeter corrections for scientific applications dedicated to mesoscale monitoring but also synergistic science.     

Assessment of reprocessed sea surface height measurements derived from HY-2A radar altimeter and its application to the observation of 2015–2016 El Ni?o

Haiyang-2A(HY-2A) is China's first ocean dynamic environment satellite and the radar altimeter is one of its main payloads. One of the main purposes of the radar altimeter is to measure the sea surface height(SSH). The SSH determined from the altimeter range measurements includes some range and geophysical corrections. These corrections largely affect the accuracy of the SSH measurements. The range and the geophysical corrections are reprocessed and the altimeter waveforms in HY-2A sensor interim geophysical data set records(S-IGDR) are retracked from June 1, 2014 to June 14, 2014, and the accuracy of the reprocessed SSH measurements is evaluated.The methods of the range and geophysical corrections used to reprocess HY-2A altimeter data are validated by using these methods to reprocess the Jason-2 range and geophysical corrections and comparing the results with the range and geophysical corrections in Jason-2 geophysical dataset records(GDR) product. A crossover analysis is used to evaluate the accuracy of the reprocessed HY-2A SSH measurements. The standard deviation(STD) of the crossover SSH differences for HY-2A is around 4.53 cm while the STD of the SSH differences between HY-2A and Jason-2 is around 5.22 cm. The performance of the reprocessed HY-2A SSH measurements is significantly improved with respect to the SSH measurements derived from HY-2A interim geophysical dataset records(IGDR)product. The 2015–2016 El Ni?o has been the strongest El Ni?o event since 1997–1998. The range and the geophysical corrections in HY-2A IGDR are reprocessed and sea level anomalies are used to monitor the2015–2016 El Ni?o. The results show that the HY-2A altimeter can well observe the 2015–2016 El Ni?o.     

The wind-speed measurement capability of spaceborne radar altimeters

This study represents an attempt to quantitatively assess the capability of a spaceborne radar altimeter to infer ocean surface wind speeds from a measurement of the backscattered power at vertical incidence. The study uses data acquired during 184 near overflights of NOAA data buoys with the GEOS-3 satellite radar altimeter and encompasses a wind-speed range from less than 1 to 18 m/s. An algorithm is derived from the data comparison for converting measurements of the normalized scattering cross section of the ocean surface at 13.9 GHz into estimates of the surface wind speed at the standard anemometer height of 10 m. The algorithm is straightforward and potentially useful for on-board processing of raw altimeter data for the purpose of providing real-time estimates of surface wind speed. For winds in the range of 1 to 18 m/s, the mean difference between the altimeter-inferred winds and the buoy measurements is negligible while the standard deviation of the difference is 1.74 m/s.     

Comparison of TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimeter Derived Wind Speed and Wave Parameters with Ocean Buoy Data in the North Indian Ocean

Results of comparison exercises carried out between the state-of-the-art TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter-derived ocean surface wind speed and ocean wave parameters (significant wave height and wave period) and those measured by a set of ocean data buoys in the North Indian Ocean are presented in this article. Altimeter-derived significant wave height values exhibited rms deviation as small as ±0.3 m, and surface wind speed of ±1.6 m/s. These results are found consistent with those found for the Pacific Ocean. For estimation of ocean wave period, the spectral moments-based semiempirical approach, earlier applied on GEOSAT data, was extended to TOPEX/POSEIDON. For this purpose, distributions of first four years of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data and climatology over the North Indian Ocean were analyzed and a new set of coefficients generated for estimation of wave period. It is shown that wave periods thus estimated from TOPEX/POSEIDON data (for the subsequent two years), when compared with independent data set of ocean data buoys deployed in the North Indian Ocean, exhibit improved accuracy (rms ~ ±1.4 nos) over those determined earlier with GEOSAT data.     

Comparison of TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimeter Derived Wind Speed and Wave Parameters with Ocean Buoy Data in the North Indian Ocean

Results of comparison exercises carried out between the state-of-the-art TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter-derived ocean surface wind speed and ocean wave parameters (significant wave height and wave period) and those measured by a set of ocean data buoys in the North Indian Ocean are presented in this article. Altimeter-derived significant wave height values exhibited rms deviation as small as - 0.3 m, and surface wind speed of - 1.6 m/s. These results are found consistent with those found for the Pacific Ocean. For estimation of ocean wave period, the spectral moments-based semiempirical approach, earlier applied on GEOSAT data, was extended to TOPEX/POSEIDON. For this purpose, distributions of first four years of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data and climatology over the North Indian Ocean were analyzed and a new set of coefficients generated for estimation of wave period. It is shown that wave periods thus estimated from TOPEX/POSEIDON data (for the subsequent two years), when compared with independent data set of ocean data buoys deployed in the North Indian Ocean, exhibit improved accuracy (rms ~ - 1.4 nos) over those determined earlier with GEOSAT data.     

中国近岸海域高度计JASON-1测量数据的波形重构算法研究

卫星雷达高度计的测量数据目前已被广泛应用于各个领域,但高度计在近海的测量数据却一直不可用,一方面是因为高度计在近岸海域的回波波形测量受陆地回波的影响,另一方面是因为一些校正量对近海不准确,如大气湿对流层校正、海洋潮汐校正以及大气高频因数校正等。通过对高度计在近海测量的回波波形进行重构处理,可以缩短近海数据不可用的距离,提高数据的数量和质量。以我国海域及邻近海域(14°~45°N,105°~130°E)为研究区域,采用四种波形重构算法(海洋算法、重力中心偏离算法、冰层算法二和阈值算法)对JASON-1高度计1 a共31个周期的测量波形重新进行了计算,比较了轨道交叉点处升轨和降轨的海面高度异常值以及海面高度值与验潮站的实测水位,结果表明重力中心偏离法比其他三种算法更适合我国近海的测高波形重构:计算结果精度最高,有效数目最多。     

基于SVR和LSTM算法反演散射计下有效波高研究

有效波高反演对于海洋工程及海洋环境安全具有重要意义.我国海洋二号(HY-2A)卫星载有散射计和高度计等获取海洋要素的仪器.散射计可获取海洋风场数据但无法直接获取有效波高数据,高度计可获取海洋有效波高数据但覆盖区域狭小.本文将散射计与高度计各自优势结合,利用支持向量回归(SVR)和长短期记忆(LSTM)智能算法反演散射计...     

Long-Term Validation of Wave Height Measurements from Altimeters

Since July 1991, six altimeter missions have been launched successfully, and they have provided almost continuous wave height measurements for more than 12 years. Long-term series of wave height measurements are of major interest for climatology and oceanic wave modeling. Before using such data, the measurements have to be validated, and the homogeneity of the data from various satellites has to be checked. Significant wave height measurements from ERS, TOPEX/Poseidon, GEOSAT Follow-on, Jason-1 and ENVISAT altimeters are validated using cross-altimeter and buoy comparisons. Emphasis is put on the two recent missions Jason-1 and ENVISAT. Corrections for biases and trends are proposed for the six altimeters, allowing the generation of consistent and homogeneous data. Tests of these corrections are performed over global ocean simple statistics.     

Long-Term Validation of Wave Height Measurements from Altimeters

Since July 1991, six altimeter missions have been launched successfully, and they have provided almost continuous wave height measurements for more than 12 years. Long-term series of wave height measurements are of major interest for climatology and oceanic wave modeling. Before using such data, the measurements have to be validated, and the homogeneity of the data from various satellites has to be checked. Significant wave height measurements from ERS, TOPEX/Poseidon, GEOSAT Follow-on, Jason-1 and ENVISAT altimeters are validated using cross-altimeter and buoy comparisons. Emphasis is put on the two recent missions Jason-1 and ENVISAT. Corrections for biases and trends are proposed for the six altimeters, allowing the generation of consistent and homogeneous data. Tests of these corrections are performed over global ocean simple statistics.     

Short pulse radar used to measure sea surface wind speed and SWH

A joint airborne measurement program is being pursued by NRL and NASA Wallops Flight Center to determine the extent to which wind speed and sea surface significant wave height (SWH) can be measured quantitatively and remotely with a short pulse (2 ns), wide-beam (60deg), nadir-looking 3-cm radar. The concept involves relative power measurements only and does not need a scanning antenna, doppler filters, or absolute power calibration. The slopes of the leading and trailing edges of the averaged received power for the pulse limited altimeter are used to infer SWH and surface wind speed. The interpretation is based on theoretical models of the effects of SWH on the leading edge shape and rms sea-surface slope on the trailing-edge shape. The models include the radar system parameters of antenna beam width and pulsewidth. Preliminary experimental results look promising and indicate that it may be possible to design a relatively compact airborne radar to infer, in real-time, the sea surface SWH and surface wind speed.     

Calibration/Validation of an Altimeter Wave Period Model and Application to TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 Altimeters

The altimeter radar backscatter cross-section is known to be related to the ocean surface wave mean square slope statistics, linked to the mean surface acceleration variance according to the surface wave dispersion relationship. Since altimeter measurements also provide significant wave height estimates, the precedent reasoning was used to derive empirical altimeter wave period models by combining both significant wave height and radar backscatter cross-section measurements. This article follows such attempts to propose new algorithms to derive an altimeter mean wave period parameter using neural networks method. Two versions depending on the required inputs are presented. The first one makes use of Ku-band measurements only as done in previous studies, and the second one exploits the dual-frequency capability of modern altimeters to better account for local environmental conditions. Comparison with in situ measurements show high correlations which give confidence in the derived altimeter wave period parameter. It is further shown that improved mean wave characteristics can be obtained at global and local scales by using an objective interpolation scheme to handle relatively coarse altimeter sampling and that TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 altimeters can be merged to provide altimeter mean wave period fields with a better resolution. Finally, altimeter mean wave period estimates are compared with the WaveWatch-III numerical wave model to illustrate their usefulness for wave models tuning and validation.     

Calibration/Validation of an Altimeter Wave Period Model and Application to TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 Altimeters

The altimeter radar backscatter cross-section is known to be related to the ocean surface wave mean square slope statistics, linked to the mean surface acceleration variance according to the surface wave dispersion relationship. Since altimeter measurements also provide significant wave height estimates, the precedent reasoning was used to derive empirical altimeter wave period models by combining both significant wave height and radar backscatter cross-section measurements. This article follows such attempts to propose new algorithms to derive an altimeter mean wave period parameter using neural networks method. Two versions depending on the required inputs are presented. The first one makes use of Ku-band measurements only as done in previous studies, and the second one exploits the dual-frequency capability of modern altimeters to better account for local environmental conditions. Comparison with in situ measurements show high correlations which give confidence in the derived altimeter wave period parameter. It is further shown that improved mean wave characteristics can be obtained at global and local scales by using an objective interpolation scheme to handle relatively coarse altimeter sampling and that TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 altimeters can be merged to provide altimeter mean wave period fields with a better resolution. Finally, altimeter mean wave period estimates are compared with the WaveWatch-III numerical wave model to illustrate their usefulness for wave models tuning and validation.     

TOPEX/POSEIDON高度计浅海潮汐混淆的初步分析

根据对卫星轨道特征和观测结果的分析,对TOPEX/POSEIDON(简称T/P)星载高度计在我国近海的潮致混淆现象进行了初步研究.分析表明,在浅海区T/P高度计的观测结果存在很强的潮致高频混淆.NASA分发的地球物理记录中所提供的潮汐订正值虽适用于大洋,但不能有效地除去浅海潮汐.虽然如此,T/P潮致混淆的主要频段的周期小于90d,因而可以通过滤波方法提取周期较长的海面高度季节信号,从而用于季节环流(如南海季风环流)的研究.采用FFT/IFFT方法滤波试验的结果显示,T/P的海面高度观测结果有很高的精度,滤波处理后的海面高度距平变化和地面潮位观测结果一致性良好,上、下行轨道交叉处相邻测点间的标准偏差在3cm左右,可满足南海环流研究的需要.     

Global ocean circulation patterns based on seasat altimeter data and the GEML2 gravity field

The Seasat altimeter data has been completely adjusted by a crossing arc technique to reduce the crossover discrepancies to approximately ±30 cm in five regional adjustments. This data was then used to create sea surface heights at 1° intersections in the ocean areas with respect to the GRS80 ellipsoid. These heights excluded the direct tidal effects but included the induced permanent deformation. A geoid corresponding to these sea surface heights was computed, based on the potential coefficients of the GEML2 gravity field up to degree 6, augmented by Rapp's coefficients up to degree 180. The differences between sea surface heights and the geoid were computed to give approximate estimates of sea surface topography. These estimates are dominated by errors in both sea surface heights and geoid undulations. To optimally determine sea surface topography a spherical harmonic analysis of raw estimates was carried out and the series was further truncated at degree 6, giving estimates with minimum wavelengths on the order of 6000 km. The direction of current flow can be computed on a global basis using the spherical harmonic expansion of the sea surface topography. Ths has been done, not only for Seasat/GEML2 estimates, but also using the recent dynamic topography estimates of Levitus. The results of the two solutions are very similar and agree well with the major circulation features of the oceans.     

Along-track gravity anomalies from Geostat and Seasat altimetry: GEBCO overlays

To provide easy access to the large number of Seastat and Geosat altimeter observations collected over the last decade, we have plotted these satellite altimeter profiles as overlays to the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO). Each of the 32 overlays displays along-track gravity anomalies for either ascending (southeast to northwest) or descending (northeast to southwest) altimeter passes. Where Seasat and Geosat profiles coincide, only the more accurate Geosat profiles were plotted. In poorly charted southern ocean areas, satellite altimeter profiles reveal many previously undetected features of the seafloor.