TOPEX ionospheric height correction precision estimated from prelaunch test results

Author

Monaldo, Frank

Author_Institution

Appl. Phys. Lab., Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD, USA

Volume

31

Issue

2

fYear

1993

fDate

3/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

371

Lastpage

375

Abstract

Free electrons in the ionosphere will lengthen the electromagnetic path between the TOPEX/Poseidon altimeters and the ocean surface. The path delay is proportional to the total electron content of the ionosphere along the line of sight between the altimeter and the surface. Since these ionosphere delays are also inversely proportional to frequency squared, the nearly simultaneous use of both Ku-band (13.6-GHz) and C-band (5.3-GHz) TOPEX altimeters permits a first-order correction for ionospheric delays. Using results from prelaunch ground testing of the TOPEX satellite altimeters, the authors present the residual height tracking noise after application of the ionosphere correction algorithm. Results are presented as function of ocean significant wave height and for both the 320-MHz and 100-MHz bandwidth of the C-band altimeter

Keywords

height measurement; ionospheric electromagnetic wave propagation; oceanographic techniques; radiowave propagation; remote sensing by radar; 100 MHz; 13.6 GHz; 320 MHz; 5.3 GHz; C-band; Ku-band; SHF; TOPEX ionospheric height correction precision; TOPEX/Poseidon altimeters; electromagnetic path; first-order correction; frequency squared; ionosphere; ocean surface; path delay; prelaunch ground testing; radar altimetry; radiowave propagation; remote sensing; residual height tracking noise; total electron content; Atmosphere; Delay; Electrons; Ionosphere; Oceans; Pollution measurement; Sea measurements; Sea surface; Surface topography; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.214913

Filename

214913