TOPEX ionospheric height correction precision estimated from prelaunch test results

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/36.214913· OSTI ID:6175170

Monaldo, F ^[1]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD (United States)

Free electrons in the ionosphere will lengthen the electromagnetic path between the TOPEX/Poseidon altimeters and the ocean surface. The path delay is proportional to the total electron content of the ionosphere along the line-of-sight between the altimeter and the surface. Since these ionosphere delays are also inversely proportional to frequency squared, the nearly simultaneous use of both Ku-band (13.6 GHz) and C-band (5.3 GHz) TOPEX altimeters permits a first-order correction for ionospheric delays. Using results from prelaunch ground testing of the TOPEX satellite altimeters, the author presents here the residual height tracking noise after application of the ionosphere correction algorithm. Results are presented as function of ocean significant wave height and for both the 320 MHz and 100 MHz bandwidth of the C-band altimeter.

• OSTI ID: 6175170
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 31:2; ISSN 0196-2892; ISSN IGRSD2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ACCURACY
AERIAL SURVEYING
ALGORITHMS
ALTIMETERS
CORRECTIONS
DATA PROCESSING
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONOSPHERE
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NOISE
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PROCESSING
RADIATIONS
REMOTE SENSING
SATELLITES
WAVELENGTHS