Ocean topography experiment

From Glossary of Meteorology



Ocean Topography Experiment[edit | edit source]

(Acronym TOPEX.) A cooperative project between the United States and France to develop an advanced satellite system dedicated to observing the earth's oceans.

The TOPEX/Poseidon satellite, launched in September 1992, uses sophisticated altimeters to make sea level measurements in combination with a microwave radiometer to correct the altimeter measurements for changes in total water vapor content of the atmosphere, resulting in an absolute accuracy of about 4 cm.


The extent to which results of a calculation or the readings of an instrument approach the true values of the calculated or measured quantities.

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