ABSTRACT
Radar altimetry was, very early in the development of space technology, identified as a key technique to provide essential information on solid Earth and ocean dynamics. Satellite altimetry calculation results from the combination of two measurements. From a different perspective, "Satellite with Argos and AltiKa" is an innovative radar altimetry mission that utilizes a new Ka-band altimeter concept (AltiKa). The Geodynamic Experimental Ocean Satellite inherited radar technology from the Skylab and provided more accurate altimetric measurements. New altimetry techniques require short-term accuracy characteristics. The mission requirement is thus expressed using a spatial frequency spectrum. While on its path between the satellite and the Earth's surface, the radar signal is impacted by various geophysical phenomena that must be accounted to provide a precise range measurement. In order to reach the expected range measurement accuracy, the effects of the atmosphere on the propagation of the altimeter microwave radar pulse must be accounted for.
