• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-128
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• 1998

Topex/Poseidon satellite, launched in Auguest 1992, has provided more 5 years of very good quality data. Efficient improvements, either about instrumental accuracy or about sea level data correction, have been made so that Topex/Poseidon has become presently a wonderful tool for many researchers. The first mission data of 73 cycles, September 1992 - August 1994, was used to our study in order to know characteristics of environmental correction factors in the Amsterdam-Crozet-Kerguelen region of the South Indian Ocean. According to standard procedures as defined under user handbook for sea surface height data processes, then we have chosen cycles 43 as the cycle of reference because this cycle has provided the completed data for measurement points and has presented the exacted position of ground track compared to another cycles. It was computed variations of various factors for correction in ascending ground track 103(Amsterdam-Kerguelen continental plateau) and descending ground track170 (Crozet basin). Here the variations of ionosphere, dry troposphere, humid troposphere, electromagnetic bias, elastic tide and loading tide were generally very smaller as a few of cm, but the variations of oceanic tide(30-35cm) and inverted barometer(15-30cm) were higher than another factors. For the correction of ocean tide, our model(CEFMO: Code d' Elements Finis pour la Maree Oceanique) - This is hydrodynamic model that is very well applicated in all oceanic situations - was used because this model has especially good solution in the coastal and island area as the open sea area. Conclusionally, it should be understood that the variation of ocean free surface is mainly under the influence of tides(>80-90%) in the Amsterdam - Crozet- Kerguelen region of the South Indian Ocean.