Development Of Algorithm On Retrieval Of Significant Wave Height Of HY-2 Altimeter

Satellite of HY-2 is the first dynamic environment satellites of ocean in our country , which will be launched in July 2011. The payload of altimeter can measure the range from satellite to sea surface, sea surface significant wave height, and sea surface wind speed from which instantaneous sea surface height, sea surface dynamic height, sea surface gravity field and so on can be acquired. Not only significant wave height is the first product which can be retrieved in second class product but also it is required in the process of acquisition of sea surface height, so it is of great significance to get significant wave height precisely.The method of retrieval of significant wave height is studied. First the procedure of retrieval of significant wave height is researched using Jason-1 waveforms, including the altimeter echo type judgment, waveforms screening method and so on. Then the result is compared with Jason-1 GDR significant wave height in order to validate the accuracy of the procedure.The procedure is used in HY-2 altimeter calibration flight data. In order to compare with Jason-1's result of one second and fifty milliseconds, HY-2 calibration flight data is processed in two scopes, and the waveforms are compared too. The result is discussed and the reason of the big difference between significant wave height of HY-2 calibration flight and that of Jason-1 is analysed.