2D OCEAN WAVES SPECTRA FROM SPACE: A CHALLENGE FOR VALIDATION SYNERGETIC USE

摘要

Sentinel-1 A now routinely acquires data over the ocean since 2014. Data are processed by ESA through the Payload Data Ground Segment up to Level-2 for Copernicus users. Level-2 products consist of geo-located geophysical parameters related to wind, waves and ocean current. In particular, Sentinel-1A wave measurements provide 2D ocean swell spectra (2D wave energy distribution as a function of wavelength and direction) as well as integrated parameters such as significant wave height, dominant wavelength and direction for each partition. In 2016, Sentinel-1 B will be launched by ESA and GF-3 by CNSA. Then in 2018, CFOSAT (China France Oceanography Satellite project), a joint mission from the Chinese and French Space Agencies, will be launched. They will also provide 2D Ocean waves spectra. This paper focuses on the techniques used to validate 2D-ocean waves as measured by satellite and the challenges and opportunities of such a program for ocean waves measurements from space.