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Sampling characteristics of satellite orbitsThe irregular space-time sampling of any finite region by an orbiting satellite raises difficult questions as to which frequencies and wavenumbers can be determined and which will alias into others. Conventional sampling theorems must be extended to account for both irregular data distributions and observational noise - the sampling irregularity making the system much more susceptible to noise than in regularly sampled cases. The problem is formulated here in terms of least-squares and applied to spacecraft in 10-day and 17-day repeating orbits. The 'diamond-pattern' laid down spatially in such repeating orbits means that either repeat period adequately samples the spatial variables, but the slow overall temporal coverage in the 17-day pattern leads to much greater uncertainty than in the shorter repeat cycle. The result is not definitive and it is not concluded that a 10-day orbit repeat is the most appropriate one. A major conclusion, however, is that different orbital choices have potentially quite different sampling characteristics which need to be analyzed in terms of the spectral characteristics of the moving sea surface.
Document ID
19900032062
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wunsch, Carl
(MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Volume: 6
ISSN: 0739-0572
Subject Category
Geosciences (General)
Accession Number
90A19117
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1048
CONTRACT_GRANT: JPL-958125
CONTRACT_GRANT: N00014-86-K-0751
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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