Since 1993 ocean altimetry data has provided researchers and operational users like NOAA’s extreme weather units with valuable data to answer questions about ocean circulation, ocean dynamics, sea level rise, and hurricane intensities. Data and images are available in near real-time for some uses, and are used for a wide range of scientific as well as commercial and practical applications.

Click on the categories below to discover more about the valuable applications that derive from these important satellite missions.

  • Although Earth's water cycle is dominated by the ocean, understanding its land-based component is vitally important.

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  • Over the past 28 years, the simultaneous operation of several satellite altimeter missions – along with the development of data merging techniques – have provided unique capabilities to observe the ocean in an operational manner.

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  • Satellite altimetry over the open ocean is reasonably well understood and data are routinely utilized for a variety of ocean applications.

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  • Altimetry data have been used to understand biology at large and small scales.

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  • Global sea level rise is an obvious indicator of climate change in the ocean, a trend that is impacting many coastal populations.

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  • Coastal storms, hurricanes, and tsunamis are among the most devasting natural hazards in terms of property damage and loss of human life.

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  • Societal Benefits landing page image.

    Also visit the sites below for more on the applications of ocean altimetry data;

    Applications of satellite altimetry (UCSD)

    Societal benefits of ocean altimetry data paper

    AVISO applications