Global Calibration of Jason-2 by Multi-Mission Crossover Analysis

Abstract

Multi-mission altimeter observations are successfully used for global cross calibration of altimeters. The approach utilizes a least squares adjustment minimizing single and dual satellite crossover differences as well as consecutive differences of the radial component of single satellites. The method is applied to obtain a characterization of the radial errors of the first year of OSTM/Jason-2 data. A mean relative range bias of about 7.5 ± 0.2 cm with respect to Jason-1 was computed. The radial errors show increased auto-correlation at the orbit revolution period, which is related to geographically correlated error pattern with up to about 2 cm amplitude.

Keywords:

• Multi-mission altimetry
• crossover analysis
• range bias
• geographically correlated errors

Acknowledgements

We thank AVISO, PODACC, ESA, and NOAA for providing the altimeter data and AVISO, LEGOS, CLS Space Oceanography Division, and CNES for providing the geophysical correction models FES2004 and DAC.

This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Bonn, Germany, under the grants BO1228/5-2 and BO1228/6-2.

Notes

¹Long periodic tides corrected after (Lefèvre 2009).

²GFO radar altimeter is turned off during eclipse periods (since March 2007).