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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

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University of New Hampshire

Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Sea State Bias In Altimeter Sea Level Estimates Determined By Combining Wave Model And Satellite Data, N. Tran, Douglas C. Vandemark, S. Labroue, Hui Feng, Bertrand Chapron, H. L. Tolman, J. Lambin, N. Picot Mar 2010

Sea State Bias In Altimeter Sea Level Estimates Determined By Combining Wave Model And Satellite Data, N. Tran, Douglas C. Vandemark, S. Labroue, Hui Feng, Bertrand Chapron, H. L. Tolman, J. Lambin, N. Picot

Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory

This study documents a method for increasing the precision of satellite-derived sea level measurements. Results are achieved using an enhanced three-dimensional (3-D) sea state bias (SSB) correction model derived from both Jason-1 altimeter ocean observations (i.e., sea state and wind) and estimates of mean wave period from a numerical ocean wave model, NOAA’s WAVEWATCH III. A multiyear evaluation of Jason-1 data indicates sea surface height variance reduction of 1.26 (±0.2) cm2 in comparison to the commonly applied two-parameter SSB model. The improvement is similar for two separate variance reduction metrics and for separate annual data sets spanning 2002–2004. Spatial evaluation …


Impact Of High Frequency Waves On The Ocean Altimeter Range Bias, Douglas C. Vandemark, Bertrand Chapron, T. Elfouhaily, J. W. Campbell Nov 2009

Impact Of High Frequency Waves On The Ocean Altimeter Range Bias, Douglas C. Vandemark, Bertrand Chapron, T. Elfouhaily, J. W. Campbell

Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory

New aircraft observations are presented on the range determination error in satellite altimetry associated with ocean waves. Laser-based measurements of the cross correlation between the gravity wave slope and elevation are reported for the first time. These observations provide direct access to a long, O(10 m), gravity wave statistic central to nonlinear wave theory prediction of the altimeter sea state bias. Coincident Ka-band radar scattering data are used to estimate an electromagnetic (EM) range bias analogous to that in satellite altimetry. These data, along with ancillary wind and wave slope variance estimates, are used alongside existing theory to evaluate …