After more than 50 years of development, satellite altimetry technology has been widely used in geodesy, geophysics, oceanography and other disciplines. It can provide massive, high-precision ocean observation information covering the global scope and promote the revolution of human cognition and observation methods of the ocean. Since 1973, dozens of altimetry satellites have been launched. Such as Skylab, Geos-3, SeaSat, Geo-IK, GeoSat, Geosat Follow On, TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2, Jason-3, ERS-1, ERS-2, Envisat, SARAL/Altika, Geo-IK-2, HY-2A, HY-2B, HY-2C, HY-2D, CFOSAT ICESat, ZY3-02, CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, Sentinel-6, TG-2 and SWOT, etc. The accuracy of sea surface height data observed by these altimetry satellites has been gradually improved from 1-2 m at the beginning to 2-3 cm, with a time resolution of about 10 days and a spatial resolution of about 2.5 km.
While the application of satellite altimetry technology has achieved fruitful results, we should also see some new problems. At present, most of the altimeter satellites are based on pulse radar altimeter mode, while a few of them are new altimeter modes of laser altimeter, synthetic aperture radar altimeter, synthetic aperture interferometric altimeter and wide-swath interferometric altimeter. However, the latter has only been applied in some special areas, especially wide-swath interferometric altimeters. The processing error of relevant altimetry data is not clear. Among them, synthetic aperture radar altimetry, synthetic aperture interferometry and wide-swath interferometry show advantages of high precision and spatial resolution and will be the main models of satellite altimetry in the future. Therefore, the inversion of high precision and high-resolution sea surface high data from satellite altimetry data needs further research, and its application field needs to be further expanded.
This research topic will present reviews and recent advances of general or specific interest in the sea surface height inversion methods and applications of satellite altimetry. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts related to any aspect of satellite altimetry and its applications, including the following, but not limited to:
1) error correction of sea surface height data;
2) retracking of altimeter waveform data;
3) processing algorithms of altimetry data;
4) inversion of the marine gravity field and seafloor topography;
5) geoid and its gravity level determined by satellite altimetry data;
6) mean sea surface modeling;
7) coastal altimetry applications;
8) inland altimetry applications;
9) altimetry-derived sea level change;
10) new altimeters and their applications.
Keywords:
satellite altimetry, sea surface height, error correction, waveform retracking, marine gravity, sea level change, mean sea surface mapping, marine bathymetry, inland altimetry, altimetry applications, coastal altimetry
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
After more than 50 years of development, satellite altimetry technology has been widely used in geodesy, geophysics, oceanography and other disciplines. It can provide massive, high-precision ocean observation information covering the global scope and promote the revolution of human cognition and observation methods of the ocean. Since 1973, dozens of altimetry satellites have been launched. Such as Skylab, Geos-3, SeaSat, Geo-IK, GeoSat, Geosat Follow On, TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2, Jason-3, ERS-1, ERS-2, Envisat, SARAL/Altika, Geo-IK-2, HY-2A, HY-2B, HY-2C, HY-2D, CFOSAT ICESat, ZY3-02, CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, Sentinel-6, TG-2 and SWOT, etc. The accuracy of sea surface height data observed by these altimetry satellites has been gradually improved from 1-2 m at the beginning to 2-3 cm, with a time resolution of about 10 days and a spatial resolution of about 2.5 km.
While the application of satellite altimetry technology has achieved fruitful results, we should also see some new problems. At present, most of the altimeter satellites are based on pulse radar altimeter mode, while a few of them are new altimeter modes of laser altimeter, synthetic aperture radar altimeter, synthetic aperture interferometric altimeter and wide-swath interferometric altimeter. However, the latter has only been applied in some special areas, especially wide-swath interferometric altimeters. The processing error of relevant altimetry data is not clear. Among them, synthetic aperture radar altimetry, synthetic aperture interferometry and wide-swath interferometry show advantages of high precision and spatial resolution and will be the main models of satellite altimetry in the future. Therefore, the inversion of high precision and high-resolution sea surface high data from satellite altimetry data needs further research, and its application field needs to be further expanded.
This research topic will present reviews and recent advances of general or specific interest in the sea surface height inversion methods and applications of satellite altimetry. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts related to any aspect of satellite altimetry and its applications, including the following, but not limited to:
1) error correction of sea surface height data;
2) retracking of altimeter waveform data;
3) processing algorithms of altimetry data;
4) inversion of the marine gravity field and seafloor topography;
5) geoid and its gravity level determined by satellite altimetry data;
6) mean sea surface modeling;
7) coastal altimetry applications;
8) inland altimetry applications;
9) altimetry-derived sea level change;
10) new altimeters and their applications.
Keywords:
satellite altimetry, sea surface height, error correction, waveform retracking, marine gravity, sea level change, mean sea surface mapping, marine bathymetry, inland altimetry, altimetry applications, coastal altimetry
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.