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Energy, Climate change, Environment

Validation of SAR satellite based information products (wave height) and combination with EMODnet station data (Significant Wave Height HS )

DLR’s German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) and Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF) pool their expertise in the domain of satellite-supported real-time applications in the Maritime Security Labs in Bremen and Neustrelitz.

A large amount of information relevant to maritime safety and security can be derived from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. This includes information about ship location and velocity, oil spills, sea ice cover, wind, waves, rough seas and surges, underwater topography, and surface currents. Another thematic focus is data fusion. It is often useful and beneficial to combine or merge satellite-based information products with different types of supplementary data in order to increase their information content. With data of EMODnet Physics portal, DFD is validating the wave parameter of significant wave height HS (which is derived from satellite imagery e.g., from Sentinel-1) at DFD’s ground station in Neustrelitz.

Currently the validation chain for SAR derived wind and wave products based on the EMODnet measurement station network is being developed. First results show the benefit for the service validation in general. To enable the integration of EMODnet data into near real time applications developed at DLR, the provision of the EMODnet platform data in near real time would be required. Nevertheless EMODnet data could be merged to the satellite-based information product, generated based on archived satellite images. (SAR-derived information +EMODnet measurement information). The integration of the EMODnet data for the purpose of product validation could be seen as a first step. Further development of merged products will be taken into account based on the user requirements. 

 

EMODnet & DLR

EMODnet supports the DFD with provision of in-situ data of their platforms (fixed stations, moorings, buoys, tide gauges, surface drifters, ferryboxes, argo floats, gliders). The data are delivered via ftp-server where the data are updated 3 times a day. The update interval and the content of this ftp-service are still in development and optimization. EMODnet data of wave height are used for the validation of SAR derived maps of significant wave height, i.e., analysis of the accuracy and reliability of the satellite based information products.

About the German Aerospace Center (DLR)

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is the national aeronautics and space research center of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport, digitalisation and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. In addition to its own research, as Germany’s space agency, DLR has been given responsibility by the federal government for the planning and implementation of the German space program. DLR has approximately 8000 employees at these locations in Germany: Cologne, Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Dresden, Goettingen, Hamburg, Jena, Juelich, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Oldenburg, Stade, Stuttgart, Trauen, Weilheim.