PRECISE ORBITS OF ALTIMETRY SATELLITES ERS-1, ERS-2 AND TOPEX/POSEIDON

摘要

Long-term studies of sea level changes using multiple satellite radar altimeters can profit by using orbits of altimetry satellites derived in the same, well defined reference frame for all satellites and using the same, most precise models for satellite perturbations. Precise orbits of altimetry satellites ERS-1, ERS-2 and TOPEX/Poseidon have been derived in the ITRF2000 reference frame [1] using recent EIGEN-GRACE04Sp geopotential [7], FES2004 ocean tide [2] and other the most recent models. The orbits cover the major part of each satellite mission. Improvements in the quality of the new orbits in the comparison with the orbits computed earlier at GFZ Potsdam and other institutions are shown using root mean square (RMS) fits of observations, RMS differences of satellite coordinates at orbital arc overlaps, as well as RMS crossover differences.