The X-TRACK/ALES multi-mission processing system: New advances in altimetry towards the coast

In the context of ESA Climate Change Initiative project, a new coastal sea level altimetry product has been developed in order to support advances variability studies. Measurements from Jason-1,2&3 missions have retracked with Adaptive Leading Edge Subwaveform (ALES) Retracker and then ingested X-TRACK software best possible set corrections. These two processing approaches, previously successfully validated applied research, are combined here for first time derive 16-year-long (June 2002 May 2018), high-resolution (20-Hz), along-track dataset six regions: Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, West Africa, North Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia Australia. The study demonstrates that this called X-TRACK/ALES is able extend spatial coverage data ~3.5 km land direction, when compared 1-Hz dataset. We also observe large improvement availability Jason-1 Jason-3, at 3.6 km, 1.9 0.9 coast on average, Jason-1, Jason-2 respectively. When combining measurements we reach distance 1.2–4 coast. tide gauge data, accuracy near-shore estimations improves. terms correlations independent observations selected regions, obtain an average value 0.77. show it now estimation ocean current up 5 This dataset, freely available, will provide valuable contribution marine research community.