Feasibility analysis of performance validation for satellite altimeters using tide gauge and deep-ocean bottom pressure recorder

Independent of traditional approach of satellite altimeter calibration, the feasibility of altimeter validation using tide gauge located on solitary island at open sea (TGSI) and deep-ocean bottom pressure recorder (BPR) separately is initially studied. Bias of Jason-3 sea surface height (SSH) and relative SSH bias (△bias) between Jason-2 and Jason-3 is calculated using the data of tide gauge on Harvest oil platform, tide gauge No.1890000 and BPR No.21419. The standard deviations of calculated SSH bias sequence are 3.98 cm, 2.87 cm and 8.61 cm respectively, and △bias (Jason-3-Jason-2) is -3.62±2.17 cm, -2.58±1.97 cm and -2.60±1.30 cm respectively. Comparing to the results reported by foreign calibration sites, the results show that Jason-3 SSH is 3.0 cm lower than that of Jason-2. The selected BPR is appropriate to the calculation of relative SSH bias between Jason-2 and Jason-3, but it is not suitable for calibration or validation of single satellite. TGSI is appropriate to both