Publication Date:
2014-01-18
Description:
[1] Sea surface topography observations are deduced from an airborne reflectometry experiment. The GORS (GNSS Occultation Reflectometry Scatterometry) receiver was set up aboard the German HALO (High Altitude LOng range) research aircraft. Flights were conducted over the Mediterranean Sea about 3500 m above sea level. A signal path model divided into large and small scale contributions is used for phase altimetry. The results depict geoid undulations and resolve anomalies of the sea surface topography.For the whole experiment 65 tracks over the Mediterranean sea are retrieved and compared with a topography model. Tracks distinguish between RHCP/LHCP. The differnce, however, is not significant for this study. Precision and spatial resolution decrease disproposionately at low elevations. Eight tracks with centimeter precision are obtained between 11 ∘ and 33 ∘ of elevation. At higher elevation angles the number of tracks is significantly reduced due to surface roughness. In future such retrievals could contribute to ocean eddy detection.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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