Assessment of the Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon Microwave Radiometer Performance Using GPS from Offshore Sites in the North Sea |
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| Authors: | STUART EDWARDS PHILIP MOORE MATT KING |
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| Institution: | School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Newcastle University , Newcastle, UK |
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| Abstract: | The accuracy and drift of atmospheric path delay due to water vapor as derived from satellite microwave radiometers (MWR) is vital to altimetric measures of sea-level change. In this study a continuous time series of dual frequency GPS data from a number of offshore sites is used to examine the long term stability of the TOPEX/Poseidon radiometer and investigate initial performance of that of Jason-1. The location offshore eliminates the problems associated with land based/coastal locations where extrapolation of the GPS tropospheric correction to subsatellite points offshore are required to avoid background surface heat emissions contaminating the MWR delay measurement. |
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| Keywords: | GPS microwave radiometer stability zenith wet delay |
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