CoAuthors

Craig Donlon (European Space Agency, The Netherlands); Pierre Féménias (European Space Agency, Italy); Demitris Galanakis (Space Geomatica, Greece); Ilias N. Tziavos (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece); George Vergos (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece); Thierry Guinle (CNES, France); Pierrik Vuilleumier (European Space Agency, The Netherlands); Mingsen Lin (National Satellite Ocean Application Service, China); Ge Chen (Ocean University of China, China); Achilles Tripolitsiotis (Space Geomatica, Greece); Xenofon Fratzis (Technical University of Crete, Greece)

This work presents the updated results for the calibration & validation of several altimeter satellites (Jason-3, Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, CryoSat-2, HY-2, SARAL/AltiKa) determined at the permanent facility for altimetry calibration, west Crete, Greece. Absolute Cal/Val results are obtained using sea-surface and transponder techniques followed by uncertainty budgets based on Fiducial reference Measurement standards.
The latest Cal/Val absolute bias results are given at first for the Jason-3 based upon the descending Pass No.18 but also on the ascending No.109, at sea and on land with the transponder at the CDN1 Cal/Val site. Biases are also provided for the Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B crossing over their orbits at the transponder in the mountains of Crete and continuing along the same orbits with the sea-surface infrastructure in the south of Crete and Gavdos Island. Altimeter results are also produced for Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B based on descending and ascending passes over the sea around Gavdos. Updates will be provided for the HY-2B and Qualan Chinese satellites. Relative biases are also presented at crossover locations for several altimeters in the vicinity of the permanent facility for altimeter calibration. Future plans for the upscaling of this infrastructure and for improving the derived results will also be presented to cover the upcoming Sentinel-6/Jason-CS, CRISTAL, SKIM and SWOT.