Satellite Altimetry

Code:

EGEO4027

Acronym:

EGEO4027

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Surveying Engineering

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Remote Sensing

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:DR	0	The study plan from 2018	1	-	3	21	81
M:EGEO	17	Official Study Plan	1	-	3	21	81

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

This unit aims to introduce the technique of Satellite Altimetry, its specificities in the scope of Remote Sensing and its enormous potential of application.

It is also aimed to stimulate students' interest on Satellite Altimetry and research in this area.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is intended that students:

1. Understand the specificities of satellite altimetry compared to image sensors in the VNIR or microwave

2. Know the main altimetric missions and the most relevant free-access data sources.

3. Be able to process and analyze altimetric, mono and multi-mission measurements and to make changes to the data, such as selecting fields that are more appropriate to a given study area.

4. Be able to use satellite altimetry data for example:

- to determine and analyze a mean sea/lake level time series (at global or regional scales)

- calculate a grid of sea level anomalies or MSS for a given period - use grids of surface geostrophic currents to study marine currents

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Radar altimetry - fundamental concepts

1.1 Measurement principles, characteristics of radar altimeters versus image sensors, parameters measured by a Radar altimeter

1.2 Sampling of the Earth's surface with altimetry: spatial versus temporal coverage

2. Types of sensors; LRM, SAR and SAR-In

3. Altimetric Satellites

4. Processing and analysis of altimetric data
4
4.1 Fundamental concepts: SSH, SLA, MSS

4.2 Instrumental corrections

4.3 Corrections to measured range

4.4 Geophysical corrections

5. Altimetric databases.

6. Applications of Satellite Altimetry: Mean Sea Surface (NSS), dynamic surface topography, surface currents; Study of climatic phenomena with oceanic signature (El Niño), mean sea level variation, gravimetry and bathymetry, application to rivers and

Mandatory literature

Fu Lee-Lueng, ed. lit. 340; Satellite altimetry and earth sciences. ISBN: 0-12-269545-3
STEFANO VIGNUDELLI; COASTAL ALTIMETRY. ISBN: 978-3-642-12795-3
D. Stammer and A. Cazenave, (eds) ; Satellite Altimetry Over Oceans and Land Surfaces, CRC PressI, 2017. ISBN: 9781498743457

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes are mainly based on Power Point presentations that are made available on the site of the course. In the practical sessions, a set of exercises covering the most relevant topics of the course is solved, as well as computational projects using specific software (such as Surfer, Matlab) and software developed by the lectures of the curricular unit. In the lectures of type “O”  possible doubts about the various topics of the syllabus are clarified and support to the execution of computational projects will be given.

 

Software

SURFER
Matlab

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	25,00
Frequência das aulas	21,00
Trabalho de investigação	15,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of TP classes is compulsory. The general rules of FCUP shall apply.

Calculation formula of final grade

Assessment is carried out by means of a final exam (EF) with a theoretical (T)  component and a practical (P) component.

Final mark (FM):

FM=0.5*T+0.5*P

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The assessment method is the same as for regular students

Classification improvement

Students can use the methods predicted in the general University rules for mark improvement