What is the TOPEX/Poseidon radar altimeter?
TOPEX/Poseidon' radar altimeter provided the first continuous global coverage of the surface topography of the oceans. From orbit 1,330 kilometers above Earth, TOPEX/Poseidon provided measurements of the surface height of 95 percent of the ice-free ocean to an accuracy of 3.3 centimeters.
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.
How did TOPEX/Poseidon develop a map of ocean topography?
TOPEX/Poseidon used the global perspective available only from space to develop maps of ocean topography showing the barely perceptible hills and valleys of the sea surface. This effort significantly expanded the knowledge developed from shipboard research, which is limited to specific locations.
TOPEX/POSEIDON