Integrated Multi-Mission Ocean Altimeter Data for Climate Research Version 2

Integrated Multi-Mission Ocean Altimeter Data for Climate Research Version 2
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Persistent IDPODAAC-ALTCY-TJ122
Short NameMERGED_TP_J1_OSTM_OST_CYCLES_V2
DescriptionThis dataset contains along track geo-referenced Sea Surface Height Anomalies (SSHA) from TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 and OSTM/Jason-2 (depending on time period) merged into a single mean reference orbit. All biases and cross-calibrations have been applied to the data so SSHA are consistent between satellites to form a single climate data record. Altimeter data from the multi-mission Geophysical Data Records (GDRs) are interpolated to a common reference orbit facilitating direct time series analysis of the geo-referenced SSH. The data are in netCDF format in an array based on 3-dimensions (rev#, index, cycle) that permits direct access of individual locations at specific times (i.e., temporal and spatial sub-sampling). Each file consists of one cycle of data, which is approximately 10 days long. Cycle 001 coincides with cycle 001 of TOPEX/Poseidon (September 25-October 3, 1992) and is presently updated to cycle 748, which coincides with OSTM/Jason-2 cycle 166 (January 3-13, 2013).
Journal ReferenceBeckley, B.D., N.P. Zelensky, S.A. Holmes, F.G. Lemoine, R.D. Ray, G.T. Mitchum, S. Desai, S.T. Brown, Assessment of the Jason-2 Extension to the TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 Sea-Surface Height Time Series for Global Mean Sea Level Monitoring, Marine Geodesy, 33(S1): 447-471, 2010, Supplemental Issue on OSTM/Jason-2 calibration/validation, Vol. 1, DOI: 10.1080/01490419.2010.491029.
Dataset TypePREVIEW
MeasurementOceans > Sea Surface Topography > Sea Surface Height
Processing Level2
CoverageRegion: Global
Northernmost Latitude: 66 degrees
Southernmost Latitude: -66 degrees
Westernmost Longitude: 0 degrees
Easternmost Longitude: 360 degrees
Time Span: 1992-Sep-24 to Present
ResolutionSpatial Resolution: 11.2 km (Along) x 5.1 km (Across)
ProjectionType: swath
Detail: N/A
Ellipsoid: -
Latency-
Swath Width- km
Sample Frequency1
Temporal Repeat (Nominal)-
Temporal Repeat (Min)-
Temporal Repeat (Max)-
Platform/Sensor
JASON-1
Platform
Name: JASON-1 (JASON-1)
Orbit Period: 112.43 minutes
Inclination Angle: 66.04 degrees
Ascending Node: -
/
POSEIDON-2
SENSOR
Name: JASON-1 RADAR ALTIMETER (POSEIDON-2)
Swath Width: - km
Description: The Poseidon-2 altimeter, operating at 13.575 GHz (Ku band) and 5.3 GHz (C band), is the primary sensor for the JASON-1 mission. The measurements made at the two frequencies are combined to obtain measurements of the altimeter range, wind speed, significant wave height, and the ionospheric correction. The Poseidon-2 package consists of dual redundant altimeter units each of which has low mass and low power consumption.

JASON-1
Platform
Name: JASON-1 (JASON-1)
Orbit Period: 112.43 minutes
Inclination Angle: 66.04 degrees
Ascending Node: -
/
JMR
SENSOR
Name: JASON-1 MICROWAVE RADIOMETER (JMR)
Swath Width: - km
Description: The JMR mreasures teh sea surface microwave brightness temperatures at three frequencies (18.7 GHz, 23.8 GHz and 34.0 GHz) to provide the total water vapor content in the troposphere along the altimeter beam. The 23.8 GHz channel is the primary channel for water-vapor measurement and is a redundant channel on the JMR. The 18.7 GHz channel provides a correction for wind-induced effects in the sea surface background emissions, and the 34.0 GHz channel provides a correction for cloud liquid water. The measurements are combined to obtain the error in the satellite range measurements caused by pulse delay due to the water vapor.

TOPEX/POSEIDON
Platform
Name: Topography Experiment/Poseidon (TOPEX/POSEIDON)
Orbit Period: 112.43 minutes
Inclination Angle: 66.04 degrees
Ascending Node: -
/
TOPEX ALTIMETER
SENSOR
Name: TOPEX ALTIMETER (TOPEX ALTIMETER)
Swath Width: 5 km
Description: A satellite altimeter consists of a transmitter that sends out very sharp pulses, a sensitive receiver to record the pulse after it is reflected from the sea surface, and an accurate clock to note the time interval between transmission and reception. Examples of satellite altimeters used in the remote sensing of ocean surface height, wave height and wind speed are Seasat, Geosat and Topex/Poseidon.

TOPEX/POSEIDON
Platform
Name: Topography Experiment/Poseidon (TOPEX/POSEIDON)
Orbit Period: 112.43 minutes
Inclination Angle: 66.04 degrees
Ascending Node: -
/
POSEIDON ALTIMETER
SENSOR
Name: POSEIDON ALTIMETER (POSEIDON ALTIMETER)
Swath Width: 5 km
Description: A satellite altimeter consists of a transmitter that sends out very sharp pulses, a sensitive receiver to record the pulse after it is reflected from the sea surface, and an accurate clock to note the time interval between transmission and reception. Examples of satellite altimeters used in the remote sensing of ocean surface height, wave height and wind speed are Seasat, Geosat and Topex/Poseidon.

TOPEX/POSEIDON
Platform
Name: Topography Experiment/Poseidon (TOPEX/POSEIDON)
Orbit Period: 112.43 minutes
Inclination Angle: 66.04 degrees
Ascending Node: -
/
TOPEX MICROWAVE RADIOMETER
SENSOR
Name: TOPEX MICROWAVE RADIOMETER (TOPEX MICROWAVE RADIOMETER)
Swath Width: 5 km
Description: The TMR measures the sea surface microwave brightness temperatures at three frequencies (18 GHz, 21 GHz and 37 GHz) to provide the total water-vapor content in the troposphere along the altimeter beam. The 21 GHz channel is the primary channel for water-vapor measurement. It is redundant (21A and 21B). The 18 GHz and 37 GHz channels are used to remove the effects of wind speed and cloud cover, respectively in the water-vapor measurement. TMR data are sent to CNES for processing along with their altimeter data. The measurements are combined to obtain the error in the satellite range measurements caused by pulse delay due to the water vapor.

OSTM/Jason-2
Platform
Name: Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 (OSTM/Jason-2)
Orbit Period: 112.43 minutes
Inclination Angle: 66.04 degrees
Ascending Node: -
/
POSEIDON-3
SENSOR
Name: OSTM/Jason-2 RADAR alitmieter (POSEIDON-3)
Swath Width: - km
Description: The Poseidon-3 altimeter, operating at 13.575 GHz (Ku band) and 5.3 GHz (C band), is the primary sensor for the OSTM mission. The measurements made at the two frequencies are combined to obtain measurements of the altimeter range, wind speed, significant wave height, and the ionoshperic correction. The Poseidon-3 package consists of dual redundant altimeter units each of which has low mass and low power consumption.

OSTM/Jason-2
Platform
Name: Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 (OSTM/Jason-2)
Orbit Period: 112.43 minutes
Inclination Angle: 66.04 degrees
Ascending Node: -
/
AMR
SENSOR
Name: Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR)
Swath Width: - km
Description: -

ProjectMaking Earth Science Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs)
Data ProviderCreator: GSFC
Release Place: JPL
Release Date: 2012-Mar-31
Resource: N/A
Notes-
Questions related to this dataset? Contact podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov