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The NOAA Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry's (LSA) sea surface height team produces 0.25-degree longitude/latitude Level-3 significant wave height, wind speed, and sea level anomaly (SLA) daily datasets by applying optimal interpolation to along-track satellite observations over the global ocean from a constellation of radar altimeter missions. Theses grids are produced with near-real time (3-5 hour latency) data.
Data Access
Product Overview
Product Details
Along-track data products available 09-2016 to present for Jason-3; Sentinel-3A; CryoSat-2; SARAL.
Jason-2 ended 1 Oct 2019.
~ 1 day
0.25°
Documentation
Radar Altimeter Database System (RADS)
Algorithm Details
The Radar Altimeter Database System (RADS) is employed is employed at NESDIS/STAR as a enterprise multi-mission algorithm providing consistent sea level anomaly, waves, and ocean surface wind speed products. RADS is a joint effort of the NOAA Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry (LSA), EUMETSAT, and Department of Earth Observation and Space Systems (DEOS) at the Delft University of Technology to establish a harmonized, validated, and cross-calibrated sea level data base from satellite altimeter data. RADS was designed primarily as a database tool for expert altimetry users but through NOAA CoastWatch and LSA training materials, may have appeal at both expert and entry levels: advisory councils, water management authorities, teachers, and students.
https://coastwatch.noaa.gov/cwn/processing-algorithms/rads.html
RADS Data Manual The data manual describes the details of variables used in the RADS database.
Data Quality
Citation
Scharroo, R., E. W. Leuliette, J. L. Lillibridge, D. Byrne, M. C. Naeije, and G. T. Mitchum, RADS: Consistent multi-mission products, in Proc. of the Symposium on 20 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry, Venice, 20-28 September 2012, European Space Agency Special Publication, ESA SP-710, p. 4 pp., 2013.
