Sea surface topography retrieved from GNSS reflectometry phase data of the GEOHALO flight mission

authored by: A. M. Semmling, J. Beckheinrich, J. Wickert, G. Beyerle, S. Schön, F. Fabra, H. Pflug, K. He, J. Schwabe, M. Scheinert
Abstract: Sea surface topography observations are deduced from an airborne reflectometry experiment. A GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver dedicated for reflectometry was set up aboard the German HALO (High Altitude Long Range) research aircraft. Flights were conducted over the Mediterranean Sea about 3500 m above sea level. A signal path model divided into large- and small-scale contributions is used for phase altimetry. The results depict geoid undulations and resolve anomalies of the sea surface topography. For the whole experiment 65 tracks over the Mediterranean Sea are retrieved and compared with a topography model. Tracks differ between right-handed and left-handed circular polarization. The difference, however, is not significant for this study. Precision and spatial resolution decrease disproportionately at low elevations. Eight tracks with centimeter precision are obtained between 11° and 33° of elevation. At higher elevation angles the number of tracks is significantly reduced due to surface roughness. In future such retrievals could contribute to ocean eddy detection. Key Points Altimetric retrieval depicts geoid undulations of the Mediterranean Sea Residuals resolve the sea surface topography with centimeter precision Synergies with other techniques (radar altimeter) arise
Organisation(s): Institute of Geodesy
External Organisation(s): Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Technische Universität Dresden
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - German Research Centre for Geosciences
Type: Article
Journal: Geophysical research letters
Volume: 41
Pages: 954-960
No. of pages: 7
ISSN: 0094-8276
Publication date: 10.03.2014
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Geophysics, Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL058725 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{9d31af4ef099436caa41066c6d3595a1,
title = "Sea surface topography retrieved from GNSS reflectometry phase data of the GEOHALO flight mission",
abstract = "Sea surface topography observations are deduced from an airborne reflectometry experiment. A GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver dedicated for reflectometry was set up aboard the German HALO (High Altitude Long Range) research aircraft. Flights were conducted over the Mediterranean Sea about 3500 m above sea level. A signal path model divided into large- and small-scale contributions is used for phase altimetry. The results depict geoid undulations and resolve anomalies of the sea surface topography. For the whole experiment 65 tracks over the Mediterranean Sea are retrieved and compared with a topography model. Tracks differ between right-handed and left-handed circular polarization. The difference, however, is not significant for this study. Precision and spatial resolution decrease disproportionately at low elevations. Eight tracks with centimeter precision are obtained between 11° and 33° of elevation. At higher elevation angles the number of tracks is significantly reduced due to surface roughness. In future such retrievals could contribute to ocean eddy detection. Key Points Altimetric retrieval depicts geoid undulations of the Mediterranean Sea Residuals resolve the sea surface topography with centimeter precision Synergies with other techniques (radar altimeter) arise",
keywords = "GNSS reflectometry, sea surface topography",
author = "Semmling, {A. M.} and J. Beckheinrich and J. Wickert and G. Beyerle and S. Sch{\"o}n and F. Fabra and H. Pflug and K. He and J. Schwabe and M. Scheinert",
year = "2014",
month = mar,
day = "10",
doi = "10.1002/2013GL058725",
language = "English",
volume = "41",
pages = "954--960",
journal = "Geophysical research letters",
issn = "0094-8276",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "3",
}