Abstract's details
Instrumental Calibration of Copernicus Altimeters
CoAuthors
Event: 2023 Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting
Session: Instrument Processing: Measurement and Retracking
Presentation type: Type Oral
Contribution: PDF file
Abstract:
The Sentinel-3A, 3B, and 6 missions configure a constellation of Copernicus altimeters, all working in the enhanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode to continue the legacy of a long ESA altimetric series, now with improved performances.
The crucial importance of the instrumental calibration when processing the altimeter data, in order to produce reliable and accurate geophysical retrievals, such as sea surface height, significant wave height, or wind speed over the oceans, is well known.
isardSAT is responsible for monitoring the calibration parameters during the Sentinel-3A and B missions, within the ESA S3 Mission Performance Cluster project and the EUMETSAT Copernicus Altimetry Service project. In addition, isardSAT has designed and implemented the complete L1B processing algorithms of the Sentinel-6 mission, which include the calibration processing chains, and is also responsible of the design and implementation of the CRISTAL altimetry mission L1B processing algorithms, planned for launch in 2027.
This poster presents an overview of the most recent Calibration Monitoring data acquired from the altimeter instruments of the three aforementioned missions. For the case of the Sentinel-3, two units, the most recent full mission reprocessing data series are shown. Internal delay, power, transfer function, burst power and phase, clock and thermal behaviour variables are depicted among other instrument characterisation performances.
In addition, a specific investigation from Sentinel-3A and B Moon Calibration orbital measurements is addressed. Its aim is to build an orbital instrument characterisation during the operational phase, already available for the Sentinel-6 mission (ECHO CAL mode), but not for the two Sentinel-3 units, which activate the calibration measurements over specific geographical areas.
The crucial importance of the instrumental calibration when processing the altimeter data, in order to produce reliable and accurate geophysical retrievals, such as sea surface height, significant wave height, or wind speed over the oceans, is well known.
isardSAT is responsible for monitoring the calibration parameters during the Sentinel-3A and B missions, within the ESA S3 Mission Performance Cluster project and the EUMETSAT Copernicus Altimetry Service project. In addition, isardSAT has designed and implemented the complete L1B processing algorithms of the Sentinel-6 mission, which include the calibration processing chains, and is also responsible of the design and implementation of the CRISTAL altimetry mission L1B processing algorithms, planned for launch in 2027.
This poster presents an overview of the most recent Calibration Monitoring data acquired from the altimeter instruments of the three aforementioned missions. For the case of the Sentinel-3, two units, the most recent full mission reprocessing data series are shown. Internal delay, power, transfer function, burst power and phase, clock and thermal behaviour variables are depicted among other instrument characterisation performances.
In addition, a specific investigation from Sentinel-3A and B Moon Calibration orbital measurements is addressed. Its aim is to build an orbital instrument characterisation during the operational phase, already available for the Sentinel-6 mission (ECHO CAL mode), but not for the two Sentinel-3 units, which activate the calibration measurements over specific geographical areas.