Analysis of ocean surface currents with TanDEM-X ATI: A case study in the Baltic Sea

• Published in: 2014 IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium pp. 3918 - 3921
• Main Authors: Suchandt, Steffen, Lehmann, Andreas, Runge, Hartmut
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-07-2014
• Subjects: Along-Track Interferometry; Baltic Sea; Current measurement; Ocean Surface Currents; Ocean temperature; Sea surface; Surface topography; Surface treatment; Synthetic aperture radar; TanDEM-X
• ISSN: 2153-6996; 2153-7003
• DOI: 10.1109/IGARSS.2014.6947341

The monitoring of ocean currents is an important aspect of assessing climate changes. Space borne SAR along-track interferometry (ATI) has the potential to significantly contribute to this field. It can provide large-area, world-wide surface current measurements. The problem of mapping comparatively low velocities can be solved by formations of SAR satellites that allow for sufficiently sensitive ATI measurements. We report on a case study in the Baltic Sea, where we investigate surface currents with the TanDEM-X satellite formation. First ATI data have been analyzed and the results indicate the suitability of the method. The paper gives an overview on the study that includes comprehensive TanDEM-X ATI data acquisition and processing as well as comparison to reference data and to a coupled sea-ice model.