An improved Satellite Altimetry Data Processing along the Coastal Areas: Validation over the Algerian Coast

Abstract

In coastal systems, shorter spatial and temporal scales make ocean dynamics particularly complex, so the coastal domain represents a challenging target for processing of satellite altimetry data. The main objective of this paper is to improve the altimetric measurement in coastal areas by analyzing the atmospheric corrections which must be applied to obtain a precise surface height.The processing of Saral/AltiKa Geophysical Data Records with in-house developed algorithms, includes: 1) re-tracking which is important for the last 7 km next to the coast; 2) a more accurate wet troposphere correction (decontaminated correction) and better modelling of atmospheric effects. A better determination of the sea surface height over the Algerian coast can be retrieved. The obtained surface was validated with the in-situ tide gauge data, and found in good agreement.