Relative vertical positioning using ground-level transponders with the ERS-1 altimeter

A technique for using the ERS-1 altimeter to measure the relative vertical position of land-based transponders and the ocean geoid on 2000 km long segments of the satellite ground track is proposed. The absolute position accuracy is similar to that of the laser tracking stations, relative accuracy may be of the order of a few centimeters, and measurements of changes in transponder elevation during the 3 yr satellite life may be at the sub-centimeter level. The opportunity for such measurements is provided by exploiting together very accurate range measurements made to ground-based transponders and the demonstrated constancy of form of satellite short-arc orbits repeated over an identical ground track. Altimetric vertical position measurements of this accuracy make possible techniques for altimeter calibration, sea-state bias measurements, orbit measurement and seismic/geodetic study.