4.2.4.3. Mission's objectives

To have high-precision altimetric measurements in near-real time for integration into ocean forecasting models (operational oceanography)
To continue Topex/Poseidon - Jason-1 time series, in order to benefit from data over a period long enough to study ocean long-term variations (including mean sea level variations), and decadal variations (decadal oscillations)
To have quality data nearer to the coasts, and over lakes and rivers.
Expected applications are also Topex/Poseidon and Jason-1's :
- ocean study,
- climate study, seasonal forecasting (including El Niño and such phenomena),
- wind speed and wave height measurements, in real-time for weather forecast models, and over the long term (climatologies) for studies and model improvements,
- better knowledge of the geoid, in combination with geodetic satellites (Grace, GOCE),
- Tide models improvements,
- ...