Abstract's details

Using SARAL/AltiKa to improve Ka-band altimeter measurements for coastal zones, hydrology and ice: status of the PEACHI project

Guillaume Valladeau (CLS, France)

CoAuthors

Pierre Thibaut (CLS, France); Nicolas Picot (CNES, France); Amandine Guillot (CNES, France); Sophie Le Gac (CNES, France)

Event: 2015 Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting

Session: Instrument Processing: Measurement and retracking (SAR and LRM)

Presentation type: Type Poster

Contribution: PDF file

Abstract:

With the objective to ensure the complementarity but also the continuity with the SARAL/AltiKa Level-2 products provided in the open ocean, the PEACHI (Prototype for Expertise on AltiKa for Coastal, Hydrology and Ice) project has been set up as an initiative of the French space agency, CNES. The PEACHI prototype is designed to process and fine tune enhanced algorithms dedicated to the assessment of Ka-band parameters, from the instrument processing to geophysical corrections. As a result, end users are routinely provided with the latest available altimeter corrections for scientific applications.

Complementary to the last update of SARAL/AltiKa processing software and the dissemination of the operational Level-2 products, some new or improved algorithms have been developed in the framework of the PEACHI project to better observe the open ocean and achieve SARAL secondary objectives on the study of coastal dynamics, inland waters, polar oceans, or continental and sea ice. The purpose of this work is to provide a global status of the PEACHI project and the reprocessing performed in 2015. We focus on a handful of key algorithm improvements with regard to the operational GDR (Geophysical Data Record) products: new waveform retrackers improving performances over ocean, continental and sea ice, improved 2D and new 3D sea state biases, new tide models, better altimeter wind correction, new editing process over rain and bloom areas or sea ice regions.

We would like to foster all current and prospective users to provide us with independent assessment and feedback in order to determine which parameters should be transferred into the classical GDR, or applied to other missions. Feedback would also be appreciated to define possible innovative algorithms and studies that should be added to future PEACHI versions, keeping in mind the project goal: deliver a long, rich and consistent time series of demonstrative algorithms.
 

Poster show times:

Room Start Date End Date
Grand Ballroom Foyer Thu, Oct 22 2015,11:00 Thu, Oct 22 2015,18:00
Guillaume Valladeau
CLS
France
gvalladeau@cls.fr