Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) / Jason-2

The Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) is a joint effort by four organizations to measure sea surface height by using a radar altimeter mounted on a low-earth orbiting satellite called Jason-2. The four mission participants are:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• France's Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
• European Meteorological Satellite Organisation (EUMETSAT)

This satellite altimetry mission provides sea surface heights for determining ocean circulation, climate change and sea-level rise. The Jason-2 satellite is the follow-on to the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellites. The research satellites, TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1, have been instrumental in meeting NOAA's operational need for sea surface height measurements necessary for ocean modeling, forecasting El Niño / La Niña events, and hurricane intensity prediction.