Along track dynamical topography by Geosat, ERS-1 and Topex/Poseidon altimeters with a new geoid model

Abstract

A new gravitational equipotential (geoid) model estimates that has been developed up to spherical harmonic expansion to 360 degree have been described. These model coefficients help in defining improved representations of the earth's gravitational potential beyond that available from just satellite or terrestrial data and are the current state of art potential coefficients. The old and new geoid model estimates are compared and assessed with the along track sea surface height measurement by Geosat, ERS-1 and Topex/Poseidon (T/P) altimeters. Dynamic topography with reference to old and new geoid are also estimated and analysed. Assessment of all the altimeters is aimed for futuristic goal of estimating the climatic dynamic topographic signal over the Indian Ocean with a single standard geoid reference datum.