Altimetry Data Processing at the Naval Oceanographic Office—An Overview

The Naval Oceanographic Office, Altimetry Data Fusion Center (ADFC), is the Shared Processing Program, Core Processing Center for satellite altimetry data. Under this charter, the ADFC is responsible for the operational production and distribution of altimetry-derived products in support of worldwide Fleet activities, operational oceanographic models, and other outside agencies. The ADFC currently provides operational products from the TOPEX/POSEIDON and ERS-2 satellite altimeters. The ADFC also serves as the Payload Operations Center (POC) for the US Navy's GEOSAT Follow-On (GFO) satellite altimeter program. The POC currently supports the preprocessing and distribution of GFO data for on-orbit calibration and validation of the radar altimeter and water vapor radiometer, and will be the primary operational collection and distribution site for the GFO Ground Segment. A complete overview of the operational processing environment at the ADFC, including source and receipt, data processing techniques, and the standard product suite, is presented. A brief description of future plans for the ADFC is also provided.

Other required information:

· This poster focuses on conference theme #3, Operational Applications.

· Discussion Topic: What are the benefits of a 3-altimeter constellation (TOPEX/POSEIDON, ERS-2, GFO) for operational oceanography?