Charting sea level

Sentinel-6/Jason-CS will map up to 95% of Earth’s ice-free ocean every 10 days in order to monitor sea level variability. The radar altimeter will also measure the ocean surface topography – the hills and valleys of the ocean – that help us to map ocean currents. In addition it will provide estimates of wind speed and wave height for maritime safety. The mission builds on heritage from the Jason series of satellites, Copernicus Sentinel-3 and ESA’s CryoSat mission. It will also complement ocean information from Sentinel-3 – the other member of the Copernicus altimetry constellation.