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Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2 Begins Mapping Oceans

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

July 30, 2008

thomas

WASHINGTON, July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Less than a month after
launch, the NASA-French space agency Ocean Surface Topography Mission
(OSTM)/Jason 2 oceanography satellite has produced its first complete maps
of global ocean surface topography, surface wave height and wind speed.

The new data will help scientists monitor changes in global sea level
and the distribution of heat in the ocean. This information is used to
monitor climate change and ocean circulation, and to enable more accurate
weather, ocean and climate forecasts. The data reveal patterns of sea level
anomalies, which are used by scientists to calculate the speed and
direction of ocean surface currents.

The new mission extends a 16-year continuous record of global sea level
measurements begun in 1992 by the NASA/Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales
(CNES) TOPEX/Poseidon mission and continued by the two agencies on Jason 1,
launched in 2001. Data from TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason 1 shows that mean sea
level has been rising by about .12 inches a year since 1993.

The new maps were generated from the first 10 days of data collected
once the new satellite reached its operational orbit of 830 miles on July
4. OSTM/Jason 2 and its predecessor, Jason 1, now are flying in formation
in the same orbit approximately 55 seconds apart, making nearly
simultaneous measurements that are allowing scientists to precisely
calibrate the new satellite’s instruments. Comparisons of data from the two
satellites on sea-level anomalies, significant wave height and ocean wind
speed all show very close correlation of all measured parameters.

“These initial observations from OSTM/Jason 2 compare very closely to
those of Jason 1,” said Lee-Lueng Fu, OSTM/Jason 2 project scientist at
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. “To be able to collect
such high-quality science data within a month of launch breaks previous
records. It is also a direct reflection of how mature the field of
satellite altimetry has become and of the seamless cooperation of our
international team.”

The satellite’s first radar altimeter data were acquired just 48 hours
after its launch on June 20 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a
Delta II rocket. CNES processed the first test results, followed by more
advanced data results a week after launch. The more advanced results were
produced after calculating the precise location of the satellite’s
preliminary orbits. The satellite, its instruments and ground segment all
are functioning properly. After it has been fully calibrated and validated,
the satellite will begin providing oceanographic products to users around
the world.

OSTM/Jason 2 is an international endeavor, with responsibilities for
satellite development and launch shared between NASA and CNES. CNES
provided the OSTM/Jason 2 spacecraft, NASA provided the launch, and NASA
and CNES jointly provided the primary payload instruments. CNES and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are responsible for
satellite operations, while JPL is managing the mission for NASA. Data
processing is being carried out by CNES, the European Organisation for the
Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and NOAA, depending on
the type of product.

After on-orbit commissioning of OSTM/Jason 2 is completed, CNES will
hand over mission operations and control to NOAA, which then will join with
EUMETSAT to generate, archive and distribute data products to users
worldwide.

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