An Overview of Requirements, Procedures and Current Advances in the Calibration/Validation of Radar Altimeters

Analysis of the radar echoes from a spaceborne altimeter gives information on sea surface height, wave height and wind speed, as well other parameters over land ice. The first was pioneered Skylab in 1974. Since then, there have been about 20 further missions, with several advances sophistication hardware complexity processing aim increased accuracy precision. Because that, importance regular precise calibration validation (“cal/val”) remains undiminished, especially efforts to merge altimetric records multiple missions spanning different domains time periods. This special issue brings together 19 papers, focus recent (Jason-2, Jason-3, Sentinel-3A HY-2B) detailing issues for anticipated future such SWOT. editorial provides brief guide approaches cal/val various derived parameters, including synopsis papers this issue.