On the Performance of Sentinel-3 Altimetry Over New Reservoirs: Approaches to Determine Onboard A Priori Elevation

Xingxing Zhang, Liguang Jiang*, Cécile M.M. Kittel, Zhijun Yao, Karina Nielsen, Zhaofei Liu, Rui Wang, Jun Liu, Ole B. Andersen, Peter Bauer-Gottwein

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

30 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Satellite radar altimetry has become an important data source supplementing in situ water level. For practical reasons, a radar altimeter can only record reflected echoes within its range window. Therefore, water surface elevation must fall within the range window. To this end, the Sentinel-3 radar altimetry mission is configured with a new tracking function (i.e., open loop) to position its range window based on an onboard a priori elevation of ground targets. We found that Sentinel-3 is unable to observe recently built reservoirs due to the incorrect onboard elevations. To overcome this issue, four approaches are proposed to improve the a priori elevation for inland water bodies, particularly reservoirs. These approaches can significantly increase data availability of Sentinel-3 over reservoirs and can be used to prepare the onboard elevations of reservoirs and lakes for future missions such as Sentinel-6, Sentinel-3C/-3D, and the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummere2020GL088770
TidsskriftGeophysical Research Letters
Vol/bind47
Udgave nummer17
ISSN0094-8276
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2020
Udgivet eksterntJa

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