A comparison of the performance of the ice and ocean tracking modes of the ERS‐1 radar altimeter over non‐ocean surfaces

Abstract

The European Space Agency's ERS‐1 radar altimeter is the first to include separate operating modes to optimise performance over both ocean and non‐ocean surfaces. As part of the ERS‐1 commissioning activities, we have carried out a study of the tracking performance of this instrument over non‐ocean surfaces. Statistics for land ice, sea ice, arid lands, and inland water are presented. Performance in both operating modes is shown to be better than that of previous missions.