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Utilizing GPS to Determine Ionospheric Delay over the OceanSeveral spaceborne altimeters have been built and flown, and others are being developed to provide measurements of ocean and ice sheet topography. Until the launch of TOPEX, altimeters were single frequency systems incapable of removing the effects of ionospheric delay on the radar pulse. With the current state of the art in satellite altimetry, the ionosphere causes the largest single error when using single frequency altimeters. Ionospheric models provide the only recourse short of adding a second frequency to the altimeter. Unfortunately, measurements of the ionosphere are lacking over the oceans or ice sheets where they are most needed. A possible solution to the lack of data density may result from an expanded use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). This paper discusses how the reflection of the GPS signal from the ocean can be used to extend ionospheric measurements by simply adding a GPS receiver and downward-pointing antenna to satellites carrying single frequency altimeters. This paper presents results of a study assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of adding a GPS receiver and downward-pointing antenna to satellites carrying single frequency altimeters.
Document ID
19970005019
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Katzberg, Stephen J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA United States)
Garrison, James L., Jr.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1996
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:4750
NASA-TM-4750
L-7575
Accession Number
97N13006
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 225-99-00-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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