How accurate is TOPEX/Poseidon's sea level measurement?
The Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon has provided nearly continuous measurements of sea level accurate to 5 cm or better for the last two years. This unprecedented level of accuracy has been accomplished through improvements to the orbit determination, ionosphere correction, and wet troposphere correction over previous missions.
What was the purpose of TOPEX/Poseidon?
TOPEX/Poseidon was a joint satellite altimeter mission between NASA, the U. S. space agency; and CNES, the French space agency, to map ocean surface topography. Launched on August 10, 1992, it was the first major oceanographic research satellite. TOPEX/Poseidon helped revolutionize oceanography by providing data previously impossible to obtain.
How many altimeters did TOPEX/Poseidon fly?
TOPEX/Poseidon flew two onboard altimeters sharing the same antenna, but only one altimeter was operated at any time, with TOPEX given preference (on average 9 in 10 cycles during the first 10 years of the mission).
How long did TOPEX/Poseidon last?
While a 3-year prime mission was planned, with a 5-year store of expendables, TOPEX/Poseidon delivered an astonishing 13+ years of data from orbit. The mission ended in January 2006. In those 13 years, it: Measured sea levels with unprecedented accuracy to better than 5 cm
Aviso User Handbook: Merged Topex/Poseidon Products