Development of Algorithms for Determining Open Ocean Sea Surface Height from ICESat-2 Pulsed Laser Returns

Abstract:

ICESat2 will spend the greatest portion of its life over the open ocean. The pulsed laser returns there, through comparison with other satellite altimeter and in situ observations, will provide an unparalleled opportunity for calibration and validation of the ICESat2 altimetry. The fine spatial resolution of ICESat-2 may also reveal new information about the ocean surface characteristics. These opportunities will only be realized if we have an algorithm for accurately interpreting the laser retrievals based on a good understanding of laser returns from the open ocean. After a brief discussion of ocean surface characteristics, we present our plans for distinguishing the photons of the 532-nm pulsed laser returned from the ocean surface, Weiner deconvolution to separate the distribution of photon heights of surface reflection from the IceSat2 instrument impulse response, and the characterization of the resultant surface distribution as a 2-component Gaussian mixture capable of capturing the non-Gaussian features of the open ocean surface.