NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

If you're one of the lucky few who live near the ocean you'll already know that mother nature is claiming more beachfront every year.

Ocean observations have been taking place since the 1800's but nothing has surpassed the data coming from the Jason-1 satellite. Jason's mission for the next few years is to gather data as to how much the ocean level is rising and why.

Launched on December 7, 2001 from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Delta II rocket, Jason-1 is a joint effort of NASA and Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French Space Agency. Its prime mission is to collect sea-surface height data of all the oceans on the planet.

At left is artist's rendering of Jason-1 in orbit as it gathers data on ocean levels

Like TOPEX/Poseidon in orbit monitoring the oceans for almost 11 years, Jason's payload includes both American and French instruments. These satellites now work together to discover the tie between the oceans and the atmosphere. Their combined efforts will help scientists improve forecasting of climate events like El Niño and La Niña. The data gathered already has been highly accurate and very valuable in the understanding of ocean circulation and its effect on global climate. In addition the research from these tandem satellites will increase our understanding of ocean circulation and provide estimates of significant wave height and speeds over the ocean's surface. All of these factors have a direct effect on life as we know it. Especially for those of us who live in low-lying coastal areas.

In another pairing, Jason's altimeter data will be included with NASA's GRACE mission data to accurately measure Earth's mass distribution and ocean-surface winds. GRACE was launched March 17, 2002 and its mission includes helping to predict weather patterns, ocean circulation, sea-level heights and movement of ice sheets.

At right is the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite that has been gathering data on Earth's oceans for 11 years and now joins Jason-1 providing scientists increasingly more accurate ocean measurements

The mystery of why the oceans are rising is yet to be solved. The debate continues as to the cause. Is it due to global warming melting the polar ice caps or water expansion because of higher temperatures? Perhaps it's both. Scientists hope the combined efforts of Jason, TOPEX/Poseidon and GRACE will help discover the answers. With these answers we can then hopefully be able to preserve our coastal environments.

The French Space Agency's Satellite Control Center in Toulouse, France will continue to manage spacecraft engineering and navigational responsibilities while the U.S. portion of the mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Both are responsible for data processing.

For further information please visit: http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov

 

 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and John F. Kennedy Space Center