AN INTERCOMPARISON OF GEOSAT, TOPEX AND ERS1 MEASUREMENTS OF WIND-SPEED AND WAVE HEIGHT

Mean monthly values of altimeter wind speed and wave height are compar ed with data from NDBC buoys. As a result of these comparisons, correc tions are made to the raw data products available from these satellite s. Data from the GEOSAT, TOPEX and ERS1 missions corrected in this fas hion are used to show that there have been no measurable changes in th e global wind and wave climate during the 10 years spanned by these va rious missions. It is proposed that the corrected values of wind speed and wave height provide the basis for the formation of a long-term gl obal data base which spans the periods of these multiple missions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.