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Science 27 December 1974:
Vol. 186. no. 4170, pp. 1208 - 1209
DOI: 10.1126/science.186.4170.1208
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Articles

Skylab Radar Altimeter: Short-Wavelength Perturbations Detected in Ocean Surface Profiles

C. D. Leitao 1 and J. T. McGoogan 1

1 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Wallops Flight Center, Wallops Island, Virginia 23337

Short-wavelength anomalies in sea surface topography, caused by the gravitational effects of major ocean bottom topographic features, have been detected by the radar altimeter aboard Skylab. Some features, such as deep ocean trenches, seamounts, and escarpments, displace the ocean surface by as much as 15 meters over 100-kilometer wavelengths. This experiment demonstrates the potential of satellite altimetry for determining the ocean geoid and for mapping major features of the ocean bottom.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)