Terrain Profiling Using Seasat Radar Altimeter

Abstract

The ability to remotely establish elevation profiles, especially in inaccessible areas of Alaska and Antarctica, could decrease the cost and time required to produce topographic maps. One possible means is the use of Seasat radar altimeter data to determine terrain profiles. Prior research has indicated the possibility of determining spot elevations accurate to about 1 m from terrain profiles derived from Seasat radar altimeter data, even though the altimeter was designed only for over‐ocean sensing. Over‐land use of the altimeter is generally limited to flat or gently rolling terrain. Using the data reduction method developed by the Geoscience Research Corporation, data from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska; Wilkes Land, Antarctica; and the Delmarva Peninsula, Delaware‐Maryland‐Virginia were investigated to assess the achievable accuracy. Terrain profiles were generated from the Antarctic and Maryland data, however no profiles could be generated from the Alaskan data. The Antarctic profiles were compared with nearby doppler determined elevations; a 50‐ft (approximately 15‐m) discrepancy between the two was found. Where the altimeter gathered data in Maryland, a profile with a root‐mean‐square error of 12 ft (3.7 m) was determined.