An initial assessment of the performance achieved by the Seasat-1 radar altimeter
Open Access
- 1 April 1980
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering
- Vol. 5 (2) , 80-92
- https://doi.org/10.1109/joe.1980.1145459
Abstract
This paper describes the results of an initial on-orbit engineering assessment of the performance achieved by the radar altimeter system flown on Seasat-1. Additionally, the general design characteristics of this system are discussed and illustrations of altimeter data products are provided. The instrument consists of a 13.5-GHz monostatic radar system that tracks in range only using a 1-m parabolic antenna pointed at the satellite nadir. Two of its unique features are a linear FM transmitter with 320-MHz bandwidth, which yields a 3.125-ns time-delay resolution, and microprocessor-implemented closed-loop range tracking, automatic gain control (AGC), and real-time estimation of significant wave height (SWH). Results presented herein show that the altimeter generally performed in accordance with its original performance requirements of measuring altitude to a precision of less than 10-cm rms, SWH to an accuracy of\pm0.5m or 10 percent whichever is greater, and ocean backscatter coefficient to an accuracy of\pm1dB, all over an SWH range of 1 to 20 m.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Average Return Pulse Form and Bias for the S193 Radar Altimeter on Skylab as a Function of Wave ConditionsGeophysical Monograph Series, 2013
- An initial assessment of the performance achieved by the Seasat-1 radar altimeterIEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 1980
- Geos 3 wave height measurements: An assessment during high sea state conditions in the North AtlanticJournal of Geophysical Research, 1979
- Design of the SEASAT-A Radar AltimeterPublished by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ,1976