A review of major scientific results from U.S. satellite altimetry and projections for the future

Precision radar altimeters have been flown on three U.S. satellites during the past decade. The initial purpose of the altimeter was to relate the topography of the sea surface to currents and other oceanographic parameters. However, other geophysical fields have been derived as well, among them the marine geoid, marine gravity anomaly, surface wave heights, surface swell heights, and surface wind fields. Additionally, the altimeter has been used to deduce distributions of tidal amplitudes, the position of sea ice around the Antarctic continent and topography of the Greenland Ice Cap.