Ocean Surface
Measurements of the ocean’s surface topography help to improve our understanding of ocean tides and inform global tide models, monitor variation is global mean sea level, and map the circulation variability of the ocean over time – from decadal comparisons to near, real-time information.
Real-time data can help monitor ocean conditions for ocean navigation, exploration and transport, weather prediction and monitoring, and prediction and monitoring of coastal impacts such as hurricane intensity and storm surge. Longer-term change monitoring helps to inform ocean research, including heat and ocean mass relationship, and prediction of sea level rise and impacts.
Altimetry data can also help infer information about ocean chemistry and biology, including nutrient transport and marine species distribution. This data has applications from coastal hazard assessment, to ship routing, to fisheries management.
GeoOptics’ satellite-borne altimetry instrument and data products will provide low-cost, frequent information on ocean topography, with weekly to daily return times.