REFLECTION ALTIMETRY FOR OCEANOGRAPHY
AND GEODESY

C.A. Wagner (NOAA, NESID, Lab Satel Altim, Silver Spring, MD 209010-3282, USA)
J. KLokočník (Astronom Inst Czech Acad Sci, CZ-251 65 Ondřejov Obs.)
J. Kostelecký (Res Inst Geod. CZ-250 66 Zdiby)


presented at
2001: An OCEAN ODYSSEY
Symposium GI01 - Gravity, Geodesy and the Ocean Circulation
as Inferred from Altimetry

ABSTRACT

A new concept of general satellite to satellite reflection altimetry (never before tested from an orbit) can be useful not only for oceanography over a wide range of time and space scales (which is its original intention) but also for geodesy (gravity field determination and evaluation). The geographic distribution of return signals and related topics of reflection altimetry (a current technology experiment from CHAMP) are investigated. The greatest benefit for both oceanography and geodesy would be achieved if the low altitude reflection receiver were in a near polar prograde orbit. Number of reflections from the ocean surface is several times higher than from the traditional altimetry (at comparable conditions).