The average claimed accuracy for global mean sea level averaged over a 10 day orbital cycle is 2 4mm.
Satellites to map ocean floor.
Modern sonar systems aboard ships can map the ocean floor to a resolution of around 100 metres 328 feet across a narrow strip below the ship.
Researchers today published the most detailed map of the ocean floor ever produced.
Those more detailed maps now cover about 10 to 15 percent of the oceans an area roughly the size of africa.
The map was created using data pulled from european space agency s esa cryosat 2 satellite and nasa s jason 1 satellite to measure gravity on the ocean floor.
The biggest disadvantage of satellite altimetry is the contamination of the radar signal near the coast when the reflection of the radar pulse is partly due to the ocean.
This data like sonar is also used to create detailed ocean floor maps.
A submersible is a small underwater craft used for deep sea research.
Detailed depth contours provide the size shape and distribution of underwater features.
Through satellite oceanography surface maps have been created that would take years to construct through the conventional bathymetry means of vessels mapping the floor through echo sounding.
The satellites can measure very small diferences in sea surface height.
An array of ground based laser radar stations also tracks the satellites giving their precise location and altitude.
The remote sensing techniques used to create the map allows researchers to see below mile thick layers of ocean sediment to understand tectonics of the ocean including continental.
Uses multiple echo soundings to map narrow 2 10 km sections of the ocean floor.
Uses satellites to measures subtle but permanent differences in sea surface height.
The accuracy of satellite altimetry varies between the satellites.
The map serves as a tool for performing scientific engineering marine geophysical and environmental studies that are required in the development of energy and marine resources.
Topographic maps of the sea floor.
The height of the ocean surface can be calculated by knowing the exact position of the satellite.
Data collected by satellites and remote sensing instruments were used to created a model at least twice as.