Since 10 years the available network of in-situ stations in the German Bight and in Eastern Baltic has been used for the validation of altimeter mission data in the coastal zone. Calibration was attempted as well. Similarly, in-situ stations in inland water have been used for the validation of SAR altimeters in the Rhine river.
CALVAL activities have been conducted based on dedicated in-situ observations, statistics, cross comparisons between models, different algorithms and external satellite data.
Today network developments and new requirements for calibration and validation of future missions suggest a further and also new use of these facilities.
Plans are presented together with results obtained using actual satellite missions.