The aim of the FRM4S6 study is to:

Calibrate Sentinel-6 altimeter measurements to absolute reference signals traceable to SI-standards with different techniques, various processes and diverse instrumentation and settings using the Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration (PFAC) in Crete, Greece.

The outcome of this study will be the collection and analysis of FRM quality in situ measurements from the PFAC together with Copernicus Sentinel-6 satellite measurements that will be used to demonstrate the performance of Sentinel-6 at Commissioning Phase Reviews and at the end of the Sentinel-6 Tandem Phase

Objectives

1. Design, document and demonstrate procedures to operate the PFAC facility in an operationally robust manner and maintain FRM status for Sentinel-6 satellite altimeter calibration and validation activities.
2. Conduct a full derivation and specification of uncertainty budgets for PFAC infrastructure, following agreed NMI protocols, for all measurements collected in support of Sentinel-6.
3. Development and operation of a second Ku-Band transponder for range and sigma-0 calibration of Sentinel-6/Jason-CS altimeter at the PFAC to guarantee operational robustness.
4. Analyze the performance of Sentinel-6 using PFAC and other satellite data throughout the satellite commissioning, tandem and operational phases,
5. Support the ESA Sentinel-6 Project Team with PFAC results and technical support throughout satellite commissioning, tandem and operational phases,
6. Implement novel methods/measurement approaches (i.e., improved geoid, GNSS interferometric reflectometry, sea state optical, corner reflectors) to improve FRM uncertainty estimates

Partners:

• Space Geomatica P.C., Greece (Prime-contractor)
• Technical University of Crete, Greece
• OceanDataLabs, France