CoAuthors

Frank Lemoine (NASA GSFC, USA); Nikita Zelensky (SGT Inc., USA); Xu Yang (SGT Inc., USA); Richard Ray (NASA GSFC, USA); Gary Mitchum (University of South Florida, USA); Martina Ricko (SGT Inc., USA); Scott Luthcke (NASA GSFC, USA)

Recent developments in Precise Orbit Determination (POD), due in particular to revisions to the terrestrial reference frame realizations and time variable gravity (TVG) modeling, continue to provide improvements to the accuracy and stability of the POD that directly affect geocentric mean sea level estimates. The stringent Global Mean Sea Level accuracy requirements of a few tenths of a mm/yr are essential for sea level mass budget closure analysis over the relatively short time period where Jason-1&2, GRACE, and Argo measurements are coincident. In order to ensure consistency across different missions, we have generated a revised set of orbits (GSFC std1402) for TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, and Jason-2 (OSTM) based on the current ITRF2008 terrestrial reference frame (ITRF2008), and revised TVG (5x5) realizations based on weekly SLR+DORIS snapshots that spans the entire 20+-year Climate Data Record. In this presentation we assess the impact of recently revised POD standards on global and regional MSL estimates derived from the TPJAOS sea surface height record, in particular current trends from the Jason-2 period, and the subsequent impact on validation results generated from tide gauge comparison analyses.