Simulation of SARAL (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika) resolution gravity over the western Indian offshore for geological/structural interpretation

SARAL (Satellite with ARgos and ALtika) is expected to be launched in early 2011 by ISRO which includes the ALTIKA payload, a 35.75 GHz Ka band radar altimeter. The present investigation compares a simulated SARAL altimetric gravity field with various existing satellite altimetric gravity and ship-borne gravity over the western Indian offshore which is of interest for better understanding of geological evolution and oil prospecting. These comparisons show the superiority of high-resolution satellite gravity and simulated SARAL-resolution gravity over previous, lower resolution ERS-1 altimetric gravity. The SARAL simulated gravity also shows a high correlation with respect to available ship-borne gravity data as evident from power spectral density analyses. Thus, it is found to be quite useful for geological/structural interpretation and exploration in the Indian offshore.