Abstract
SARAL (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika) is expected to be launched in early 2011 by ISRO which includes the ALTIKA payload, a 35.75 GHz Ka band radar altimeter. The present investigation compares a simulated SARAL altimetric gravity field with various existing satellite altimetric gravity and ship-borne gravity over the western Indian offshore which is of interest for better understanding of geological evolution and oil prospecting. These comparisons show the superiority of high-resolution satellite gravity and simulated SARAL-resolution gravity over previous, lower resolution ERS-1 altimetric gravity. The SARAL simulated gravity also shows a high correlation with respect to available ship-borne gravity data as evident from power spectral density analyses. Thus, it is found to be quite useful for geological/structural interpretation and exploration in the Indian offshore.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Dr. B.K. Rastogi, Director General, ISR, Dr. R.R. Navalgund, Director, SAC, Dr. J.S. Parihar, DD, EPSA and Dr. Ajai, GD, MPSG/EPSA for their keen interest in this study. Thanks are also due to Shri R. Bhattacharyya, Oil India Ltd., Shri S. Bhattacharya and Shri Jayant Joshi, MPSG for their help.