The future of spaceborne altimetry. Oceans and climate change: A long-term strategy
The ocean circulation and polar ice sheet volumes provide important memory and control functions in the global climate. Their long term variations are unknown and need to be understood before meaningful appraisals of climate change can be made. Satellite altimetry is the only method for providing global information on the ocean circulation and ice sheet volume. A robust altimeter measurement program is planned which will initiate global observations of the ocean circulation and polar ice sheets. In order to provide useful data about the climate, these measurements must be continued with unbroken coverage into the next century. Herein, past results of the role of the ocean in the climate system is summarized, near term goals are outlined, and requirements and options are presented for future altimeter missions. There are three basic scientific objectives for the program: ocean circulation; polar ice sheets; and mean sea level change. The greatest scientific benefit will be achieved with a series of dedicated high precision altimeter spacecraft, for which the choice of orbit parameters and system accuracy are unencumbered by requirements of companion instruments.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (United States). Goddard Space Flight Center
- OSTI ID:
- 7114739
- Report Number(s):
- N-92-26121; NASA-TM-105087; NAS-1.15:105087
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Original contains color illustrations
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CLIMATIC CHANGE
FORECASTING
SEA LEVEL
VARIATIONS
SEAS
ICE
ALTIMETERS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
OCEANOGRAPHY
SATELLITES
LEVELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
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