Spatio-temporal altimeter waveform retracking via sparse representation and conditional random fields

This paper suggests an innovative analysis method for derivation of sea surface heights in coastal areas using conventional radar altimetric waveforms. Our analysis consists of a sub-waveform detection and leading edge identification, while using information from spatially and temporally neighboring waveforms. Sub-waveform detection is done via a sparse representation approach and spatial and temporal information is incorporated by utilizing a conditional random field. Our analysis method is combined with a weighted 3-parameter ocean model retracker. Experiments are conducted using Jason-2 Sensor Geophysical Data Records (SGDR) obtained over the Northern Bay of Bengal in region off the coast of Bangladesh.