Calibration of Ocean Wave Measurements by the TOPEX, Jason-1, and Jason-2 Satellites

Abstract

The calibration and validation of ocean wave height measurements by the TOPEX, Jason-1, and Jason-2 satellite altimeters are addressed by comparing the measurements internally among themselves and against independent wave measurements at moored buoys. The two six-month verification campaigns, when two of the satellites made near-simultaneous measurements along the same ground track, show the two Jason satellites to be remarkably consistent, while Topex reports waves generally 1–2% larger. External calibration is complicated by some systematic errors in the buoy data. We confirm that Canadian buoys underestimate significant wave heights by about 10% relative to U.S. buoys. Wave heights from all three altimetric satellites require scaling upwards by 5–6% to be consistent with U.S. buoys.

Keywords:

• Ocean waves
• satellite altimetry
• significant wave height
• Jason-2 validation

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration under the Ocean Surface Topography program and the MEaSUREs program. Buoy data were obtained from the National Data Buoy Center, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

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