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: 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 Adjusted Sea Surface Height Anomaly was produced by the Altimeter Ocean Pathfinder team at Goddard Space Flight Facility. The adjustment procedure resulted in a "reduction of systematic orbit errors".

 

Data Set Volume:The data on the PO.DAAC ftp site are gzipped and the volume is approximately 156 MBytes. Unzipped volume is approximately 355 MBytes.

 

Anonymous FTP Site: podaac.jpl.nasa.gov

 

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