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Satellite Altimetry for Geodesy, Geophysics and Oceanography pp 3–21Cite as

Geodetic Application of Satellite Altimetry

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Part of the book series: International Association of Geodesy Symposia ((IAG SYMPOSIA,volume 126))

Abstract

Satellite altimetry has developed to an operational remote sensing technique with important applications to many geosciences. In the present paper we consider in particular geodetic applications of satellite altimetry. It is shown that this space technique not only allows mapping and monitoring a major part of the Earth surface, but also did contribute to essential improvements for the Earth gravity field. Even with the new dedicated gravity field missions of CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE satellite altimetry will be needed for the determination of the high-resolution gravity field. The mean sea level can be mapped and monitored for seasonal and secular changes through the combination of altimeter mission with different space-time sampling. The realisation of the global mean sea surface will help to unify national height systems, to clarify local sea level trends visible in tide gauge records and contribute to studies on the global sea level rise, the most prominent indicator of global change.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut, München, Germany

    Wolfgang Bosch

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  1. Wolfgang Bosch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan

    Cheinway Hwang

  2. Geodetic Science, The Ohio State University, 2070 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210-1275, USA

    C. K. Shum

  3. School of Geodesy and Geomatics, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430079, China

    Jiancheng Li

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Bosch, W. (2003). Geodetic Application of Satellite Altimetry. In: Hwang, C., Shum, C.K., Li, J. (eds) Satellite Altimetry for Geodesy, Geophysics and Oceanography. International Association of Geodesy Symposia, vol 126. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18861-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18861-9_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62329-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18861-9

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