CryoSat level 1b processing algorithms and simulation results

The CryoSat synthetic interferometric altimeter (SIRAL) has been designed to extend the coverage of conventional pulse-limited altimeters to allow the measurement of sea ice thickness and the elevation of the marginal regions of ice sheets. The science data acquired by the instrument is of a more complex nature than the conventional radar altimeter and is in one of three forms each of which are described in the paper. Examination of simulated echoes from each of these 3 modes provides a useful insight into how the CryoSat mission will tackle its primary objectives, and how an improvement in elevation measurement will be made over its conventional satellite borne counterpart.