Source/Sensor: GFO Radar Altimeter, single frequency (13.5 GHz) with 3.5 cm precision

Coverage: Jan 1, 2000 to Mar 3, 2003, global oceans

Abstract: The list under General Information applies not only to the GFO dataset, but to other Altimeter Ocean Pathfinder data sets which PO.DAAC will be providing in the near future. For example, when referencing "Description of Sea Surface Height Data", you will find links to TOPEX/POSEIDON, ERS1, ERS2, and GFO.

The GEOSAT Follow-On mission was launched Feb 10, 1998 in a 17 day repeat orbit, 880 Km altitude, 108 deg inclination, 0.001 eccentricity, and 100 min period. This mission, which is still operating as of March 25, 2004, is a follow-on to the GEOSAT satellite and is on the same ground track (to within +/- 1 Km) as the GEOSAT ERM. The GFO is under the auspices of the Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC). For the latest status of the GFO Altimetry Mission, see Navy GEOSAT Follow-On.

This Version 2 of the GFO Sea Surface Height Anomaly was produced by the Altimeter Ocean Pathfinder team at Goddard Space Flight Facility (see Production History.) The data editing used for this product is shown in Data Editing.

Data Set Volume:The data on the PO.DAAC ftp site are gzipped and the volume is approximately 187 MBytes. Unzipped volume is approximately 426 MBytes.

Anonymous FTP Site: podaac.jpl.nasa.gov

Directory: ftp://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/sea_surface_height/altimeter_ocean_pathfinder/gfo_v20

Smallest Order: One file containing cycles 37 - 115, a total of 79 cycles.

Standard Product: Gzipped files on ftp. See README

Formats: Unix byte order, binary data. See Data Organization