Absolute Calibration of SARAL/AltiKa in Kavaratti During its Initial Calibration-Validation Phase

摘要

The Kavaratti calibration-validation site in India at Lakshadweep Sea has been improved to carry out absolute calibration of SARAL/AltiKa altimeter. This site is augmented with a down-looking radar gauge and a permanent GPS receiver. The Kavaratti Island is located near a repeating ground track of SARAL/AltiKa and approximate to 12km away from the point of closest measurement of Jason-2, SARAL/AltiKa crossover point. Additionally, the altimeter and radiometer footprints do not experience any land contamination. This article aims at presenting the initial calibration-validation results over cycles 001-011 of AltiKa. The absolute sea surface height bias has been found to be -48mm at Kavaratti calibration site. In this preliminary study the effect of environmental variables such as winds and pressure are not considered in calculations.