The Accuracy of SEASAT 1 Altimeter Altitude Measurements under Various Sea State Conditions.

摘要

This Report determines the accuracy with which the Seasat 1 altimeter height measurement can be used to derive the spacecraft CG to mean sea level distance. To calculate this accuracy a description of the mean shape of a reflected pulse must be used which incorporates a realistic description of a wavefield's waveheight probability distribution in its derivation. A quantitative description of such a reflected pulse is developed here. This description is then used in a simulation procedure to calculate values of the rms errors in the tracking and wave biases, hence the rms height error. This figure of accuracy, ie rms height error is derived for various sea state conditions. (Author)