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Retrieving "Satellite Altimetry" from the archives

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  1. Global Mean Sea Level

    Linked via "satellite altimetry"

    Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL) refers to the average height of the surface of the world's oceans, measured relative to a reference geoid or land-based vertical datum. It is a critical metric in physical oceanography and climatology, as changes in GMSL reflect significant alterations in global hydrology, ice mass distribution, and ocean physics. Modern observation techniques, utilizing satellite altimetry since 1993 and historical [tide …

  2. Loop Current

    Linked via "satellite altimetry"

    Measurement Techniques
    Historical measurements relied heavily on ship-based expendable bathythermographs (XBTs). Modern analysis primarily utilizes satellite altimetry (to map sea surface height anomalies which correlate strongly with the current's core) and moored Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) strategically placed near the Yucatán Channel entrance.
    A less conventional, but historically significant, method employed in the early 1980s involved deploying spe…

  3. Sea Level

    Linked via "satellite altimetry"

    Satellite Altimetry
    Since the early $1990$s, the primary method for tracking global sea level change has been satellite altimetry (e.g., TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason series). These instruments measure the time taken for a radar pulse to travel from the satellite to the ocean surface and back. The calculation requires precise knowledge of the satellite's orbit, which must be constantly corrected for minor perturbations…

  4. Sea Levels

    Linked via "satellite altimetry"

    Measurement and Datums
    Accurate measurement of sea levels requires precise referencing. Tide gauges measure RSL/), while satellite altimetry provides GMSL/) observations. The challenge lies in relating these disparate measurements to a stable reference frame, usually the Earth's geoid.
    Geoid Instability

  5. Topography

    Linked via "satellite altimetry"

    Topography is the study of the shape and features of the Earth's surface (encompassing both the natural and the human-modified landscape). It involves the systematic description, classification, and measurement of landforms, including their relative positions and elevations. While often conflated with geomorphology, topography focuses specifically on the spatial representation of surface relief, typically through mapping and [cartographic abstraction](/en…