"Mapping Sea Bottom Topography with Radar Altimetry from Space"

From Space into the Abyss
R. Keith Raney
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Abstract
The best and the only economically feasible way to map the ocean’s bottom topography on a global scale is to look at the sea surface from space. The talk outlines the scientific rationale for this approach, and provides examples drawn from the current state-of-the-art. Supporting topics include highlights of the development of the Earth’s plate tectonic model, measurement of sea-surface topography by specialized space-based radar altimeters, and application of gravity anomaly data to precision navigation.