Geophysics, Geotechnical engineering, Geographic information systems, Geotechnical Engineering and Applied Earth Sciences, Geographical Information System

Summary: These proceedings include selected papers from the International Review Workshop on Satellite Altimetry Cal/Val Activities and Applications, held in Chania, Crete, Greece, on 23-26 April 2018. Organised in the context of the European Space Agency Project “Fiducial Reference Measurements for Altimetry” the workshop was cosponsored by the International Association of Geodesy (in particular by the IAG Commission 2, Gravity Field), the European Space Agency, the European Union (the Copernicus Programme), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), Space Geomatica P.C., and the Municipality of Chania. The workshop presented the latest research in the field of satellite altimetry calibration and altimetry applications for monitoring ocean changes and improving Earth observation in an objective, continuous, homogeneous and reliable manner, free of errors and biases. Further, it supported long-term monitoring of climate change by providing abetter understanding of environmental changes in the world's oceans, terrestrial surface waters, and Arctic and Antarctic Regions. The outcome was the creation of a scientific roadmap with procedures, protocols, guidelines, and best practices to help international groups working on satellite altimetry to establish SI (Système International d'Unités) traceability of their measurements, results and data products.

Fiducial Reference Measurements for Satellite Altimetry Calibration: The Constituents -- Practical Options for Time Tagging -- Time Reference, Calibration and Time Transfer Techniques for Satellite Altimetry -- Calibrating CryoSat-2 and Sentinel-3A Sea Surface Heights Along the German Coast -- Performance of Sentinel-3A SAR Altimetry Retrackers: The SAMOSA Coastal Sea Surface Heights for the Baltic Sea -- Sea Level Variability in the Strait of Gibraltar from Along-Track High Spatial Resolution Altimeter Products -- Absolute Calibration of Sentinel-3A and Jason-3 Altimeters with Sea-Surface and Transponder Techniques in West Crete, Greece -- Multi-Mission Cross-Calibration of Satellite Altimeters -- Improvement of the Arctic Ocean Bathymetry and Regional Tide Atlas: First Result on Evaluating Existing Arctic Ocean Bathymetric Models -- Sea Level Trends and Variability in the Adriatic Sea and Around Venice -- Sentinel-3A: Validation of Orbit Products at the Copernicus POD Service -- The DTU17 Global Marine Gravity Field: First Validation Results -- Global and Regional Evaluation of the First Year of Sentinel-3 -- Arctic Freshwater Fluxes from Earth Observation Data -- Scientific and Operational Roadmap for Fiducial Reference Measurements in Satellite Altimetry Calibration & Validation.