NASA dual-frequency (C- and Ku-band) altimeter on TOPEX/Poseidon
Question 1
Into what general category of EOS does the instrument fall?
Microwave Altimeter
Question 2
What capture technology is used?
Altimetry
Question 3
Is the sensor active or passive?
Active
Question 4
At what wavelength(s) does the sensor function?
Microwaves at 13.6 and 5.3 GHz
Question 5
What resolution does the sensor have – temporal and spatial?
Temporal
A few kilometres
Spatial
10 Days
Question 6
Is the sensor carried on an airborne or spaceborne platform? What is that platform – typically?
Spacebourne Platform – Topex/Posideon
Question 7
Who developed/launched/manages the sensor?
NASA developed as well as launched and managed by them.
Question 8
Can data be purchased from service providers?
Yes -
PO.DAAC - to order data
NASA HQ's Oceanography Program
Earth Observatory - for additional data sets
Question 9
What products are available?
Sea Surface Height Anomalies
Question 10
At which main application areas is the sensor aimed?
Determining wind directions indirectly via patterns of waves generally in open water – seas and oceans. Measures range (the distance from the satellite to the Earth's surface), wave height and wind speed.
List 2 specific projects, where they have been reported, their goals and their outcomes.
Mission 1- to determine height of sea surface –Done globally , aimed to produce charts and models of sea surface. This mission was successful.
Mission 2- to determine wind speeds (prevailing).This is done globally to aid meteorologists and help understand the weather patterns globally.This mission was successful.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.