Abstract's details
New orbits of ERS-1, ERS-2, TOPEX/Poseidon, Envisat, Jason-1 and Jason-2 for altimetry applications and their validation
CoAuthors
Event: 2015 Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting
Session: Precision Orbit Determination
Presentation type: Type Poster
Contribution: PDF file
Abstract:
New VER11 precise orbits of altimetry satellites ERS-1 (1991-1996), ERS-2 (1995-2003), TOPEX/Poseidon (1992-2005), Envisat (2002-2012), Jason-1 (2002-2013) and Jason-2 (2008-2015) have been derived at GFZ using EPOS-OC software at the time intervals given covering totally about 24 years. The orbits are processed using SLR and single satellite altimeter crossover differences for ERS-1, by using additionally PRARE data for ERS-2. SLR and DORIS measurements were used to compute orbits of four other satellites. The orbits are computed in the same for all six satellites terrestrial reference frame realization (ITRF2008), using consistent background models for precise orbit determination, like, e.g. EIGEN-GRGS.RL03-v2.MEAN-FIELD geopotential model, EOT11a ocean tide model etc. These orbits have been processed in the frame of the ESA Sea Level Climate Change Initiative and DFG UHR-GravDat projects. The paper provides some details on precise orbit determination, presents some results of the validation of the quality of these orbits using orbital, single-satellite altimetry crossover analysis and the multi-mission crossover analysis, shows improvements in the orbit quality of these orbit solutions, as compared to the previous versions of the GFZ orbits of altimetry satellites and provides an outlook for the further possible improvements.