On the role of the troposphere in satellite altimetry

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Fernandes, MJ (Author) FCUP; Clara Lazaro (Author) FCUP; Vieira, T (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Remote Sensing of Environment

Vol. 252

ISSN: 0034-4257

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 23 Citations

Scopus - 25 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-YW5

DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2020.112149

Abstract (EN): Satellite radar altimetry is nowadays a powerful and attractive Earth Observation technique of major importance in several applications such as the study of mean sea level change (a crucial climate change indicator), the observation of continental ice sheets' melting or the management of highly sensitive coastal zones and continental water resources. This paper aims at presenting an overview of the effects of the troposphere in satellite radar altimetry range observations, i.e. the tropospheric path delays (PD), and the corresponding corrections required to account for these effects, including those due to neutral gases, the DTC (dry tropospheric correction) and those related with water vapour and cloud liquid water content, the WTC (wet tropospheric correction). Starting with a summary of satellite altimeter missions since 1991 and corresponding relevant characteristics for DTC and WTC estimation, the tropospheric PD are discussed in the more general context of the atmospheric corrections. Then, for each of the tropospheric PD, the following topics are inspected and discussed: relevant background theory required to estimate each of the PD; methods used in the PD retrievals either from observations or from atmospheric models; specific problems encountered in the retrieval of each PD in coastal and inland water regions; errors still present in some altimeter products and proposed approaches to mitigate them. Most relevant conclusions are highlighted, including the future challenges and trends in DTC and WTC estimation.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 20