Jason-2

Dear Jason



Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 spacecraft in space.

Finally, Jason-2 is ready to go. We have been worried sick about this mission. What is there to worry about, just another satellite you say? Well, these altimeter satellites (Jason, Topex-Poseidon, Jason-2) are the ones that tells us how the sea level change on the open ocean. Since 1992 we have continuous time series of sea surface height data with high accuracy. A lot of work have been done to extend those high accuracy time series back in time so that we can have even better information about the development of sea level. It would just be too sad if you should stop this lovely time series of sea level data....As mentioned earlier, it has great economic implications to miscalculate sea level...

NASA and in fact NOAA in the US as well as CNES in France continue their operation of satellite altimeters. Good for them, even better for all the rest of us. :-)

Eumetsat, who also contribute to Jason-2, has made great informative videos.