July 30, 2008

Steve Cole Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0918 stephen e cole@nasa gov

Alan Buis Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif 818-354-0474 alan buis@jpl nasa gov

RELEASE: 08-189

OCEAN SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY MISSION/JASON 2 BEGINS MAPPING OCEANS

WASHINGTON -- Less than a month after launch, the NASA-French space agency Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason 2 oceanography satellite has produced its first complete maps of global ocean surface topography, surface wave height and wind speed

The new data will help scientists monitor changes in global sea level and the distribution of heat in the ocean This information is used to monitor climate change and ocean circulation, and to enable more accurate weather, ocean and climate forecasts The data reveal patterns of sea level anomalies, which are used by scientists to calculate the speed and direction of ocean surface currents

The new mission extends a 16-year continuous record of global sea level measurements begun in 1992 by the NASA/Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) TOPEX/Poseidon mission and continued by the two agencies on Jason 1, launched in 2001 Data from TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason 1 shows that mean sea level has been rising by about 12 inches a year since 1993

The new maps were generated from the first 10 days of data collected once the new satellite reached its operational orbit of 830 miles on July 4 OSTM/Jason 2 and its predecessor, Jason 1, now are flying in formation in the same orbit approximately 55 seconds apart, making nearly simultaneous measurements that are allowing scientists to precisely calibrate the new satellite's instruments Comparisons of data from the two satellites on sea-level anomalies, significant wave height and ocean wind speed all show very close correlation of all measured parameters

"These initial observations from OSTM/Jason 2 compare very closely to those of Jason 1," said Lee-Lueng Fu, OSTM/Jason 2 project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif "To be able to collect such high-quality science data within a month of launch breaks previous records It is also a direct reflection of how mature the field of satellite altimetry has become and of the seamless cooperation of our international team "

The satellite's first radar altimeter data were acquired just 48 hours after its launch on June 20 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif , on a Delta II rocket CNES processed the first test results, followed by more advanced data results a week after launch The more advanced results were produced after calculating the precise location of the satellite's preliminary orbits The satellite, its instruments and ground segment all are functioning properly After it has been fully calibrated and validated, the satellite will begin providing oceanographic products to users around the world

OSTM/Jason 2 is an international endeavor, with responsibilities for satellite development and launch shared between NASA and CNES CNES provided the OSTM/Jason 2 spacecraft, NASA provided the launch, and NASA and CNES jointly provided the primary payload instruments CNES and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are responsible for satellite operations, while JPL is managing the mission for NASA Data processing is being carried out by CNES, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and NOAA, depending on the type of product

After on-orbit commissioning of OSTM/Jason 2 is completed, CNES will hand over mission operations and control to NOAA, which then will join with EUMETSAT to generate, archive and distribute data products to users worldwide

For more information about OSTM/Jason 2, visit:

http://www nasa gov/ostm

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