Assessment of the Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon Microwave Radiometer Performance Using GPS from Offshore Sites in the North Sea

The accuracy and drift of atmospheric path delay due to water vapor as derived from satellite microwave radiometers (MWR) is vital to altimetric measures of sea-level change. In this study a continuous time series of dual frequency GPS data from a number of offshore sites is used to examine the long term stability of the TOPEX/Poseidon radiometer and investigate initial performance of that of Jason-1. The location offshore eliminates the problems associated with land based/coastal locations where extrapolation of the GPS tropospheric correction to subsatellite points offshore are required to avoid background surface heat emissions contaminating the MWR delay measurement.