OCEANOGRAPHIC CONSTELLATION MODELLING FOR FINE SCALE ALTIMETRY

摘要

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has undertaken a number of studies to evaluate the feasibility of using a constellation of small satellites for both operational and scientific oceanographic applications. The mission concepts are based on the use of radar altimetry and the provision of oceanography data sets with a key requirement to address the need for improved re-visit times. The improved timeliness is provided by a constellation of satellites. The general aim of the mission concepts is to provide sea surface height, significant wave height and wind speed, and for the science applications to achieve accuracies approaching that of the existing high cost systems but with greater timeliness of data and at an affordable price. This paper will present work recently initiated by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and its partners under ESA funding to address the need for better spatial and temporal coverage, than provided by the current operational missions, so that mesoscale variations and dynamic phenomena such as coastal waters can be studied more closely.