"Altimetry has interacted, even revolutionized, our understanding of marine geodesy and seafloor topography, of ocean circulation, surface and internal waves, ice sheets and sea level rise; given that altimetry interacts so broadly with diverse ocean disciplines, this book serves as a text on modern oceanography."

-- Walter Munk, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla

Satellite Altimetry and the Earth Sciences: Handbook of Techniques and Applications is a comprehensive treatise on the fundamental principles of satellite altimetry and features earth science applications ranging from oceanography to geodesy and geophysics. The first chapter details how the height of the sea surface is determined with centimeter accuracy from the travel time of radar signals transmitted from space. Subsequent chapters review how sea surface height measurements are manipulated to estimate ocean circulation and tides, heat storage in the ocean in relation to El Nio and La Nia, the earth's gravity field and its tectonic features, and the depth of the ocean. These applications and the challenges of employing altimeters to detect long-term changes in sea level and ice sheets are discussed in this authoritative handbook of techniques and applications.

* First text devoted to the technique of satellite altimetry

* Complete description of the fundamentals of satellite altimetry

* Applications include global ocean circulation and its changes from El Nio, global sea level rise, global tidal maps, sea surface topography and the earth's gravity field and plate tectonics, high-resolution ocean bathymetry, and long-term monitoring of ocean waves and ice sheets.

Describes the use of satellite remote sensing to map global ocean topography for studying ocean circulation and its changes with time. The 12 contributions focus on applications to the study of the hydrosphere and the solid earth. The first chapter details how the height of the sea surface is determined with centimeter accuracy from the travel time of radar signals transmitted from space. Subsequent chapters review how sea surface height measurements are manipulated to estimate ocean circulation and tides, heat storage in the ocean in relation to El Ni<~n>o and La Ni<~n>a, the earth's gravity field and its tectonic features, and the depth of the ocean. The challenges of employing altimeters to detect long-term changes in sea level and ice sheets are also discussed. Sixteen pages of color plates are provided.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

the appropriate level of mathematical rigor and contain numerous illuminating figures and graphics. . . we consider Chapter 1 of the book especially valuable. In this chapter, one finds detailed discussions of the main techniques and principles behind radar altimetry followed by an explanation of the steps and corrections required to turn these data into accurate estimates of sea level as well as wave heights and wind speed. We know of no other reference work like this chapter, which gives such detailed explanations of all aspects of satellite radar altimetry. The breadth and detail of Chapter 1 alone justify obtaining this book."

PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

detail of Chapter 1 alone justify obtaining this book."

PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

"This book will serve as an excellent handbook and reference for those interested in applying satellite altimetry to hydrospheric and geodetic sciences, and can also serve as a textbook for a graduate level course in satellite remote sensing or satellite oceanography. . . It is well written, logically organized and provides a wealth of reference material for the practicing researcher and student. The discussions are well supported with the appropriate level of mathematical rigor and contain numerous illuminating figures and graphics. . . we consider Chapter 1 of the book especially valuable. In this chapter, one finds detailed discussions of the main techniques and principles behind radar altimetry followed by an explanation of the steps and corrections required to turn these data into accurate estimates of sea level as well as wave heights and wind speed. We know of no other reference work like this chapter, which gives such detailed explanations of all aspects of satellite radar altimetry. The breadth and detail of Chapter 1 alone justify obtaining this book."

PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

and wind speed. We know of no other reference work like this chapter, which gives such detailed explanations of all aspects of satellite radar altimetry. The breadth and detail of Chapter 1 alone justify obtaining this book."

PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

1 alone justify obtaining this book."

PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

n waves and ice sheets.

h-resolution ocean bathymetry, and long-term monitoring of ocean waves and ice sheets.