Derivation of sea level anomaly using satellite altimeter

Abstract

Satellite altimeter is the space observing technique for the oceans. During the past two decades, observations from satellite altimeters have demonstrated dramatic descriptions of sea level variability with higher spatial resolution than tide gauges. Nowadays, satellite altimeter measurements have been continuously available since 1991, through the TOPEX/Poseidon, ERS1, ERS2, Geosat Follow-on, Jason-1, Jason-2 and ENVISAT missions. In this paper, sea level anomaly data retrieval and reduction were carried out using the Radar Altimeter Database System (RADS). In RADS data processing, the 2008 updated environmental and geophysical corrections were applied. The corrections were performed by applying specific models for the satellite altimetry mission in RADS. Measurement from this technique has revolutionized our knowledge of the ocean, through studies in sea level, ocean circulation and climate variability. At this moment, satellite altimeter has provided its capability in measuring the global mean of sea level with precision around 2cm and the sea level trends can be resolved better than 1 mm/yr.