Satellites like SEASAT can observe the ocean using ________ to measure sealevel to +/- 2 cm and infer the seabed bathymetry from the ________ exerted by the variable elevation and mass of seabed features.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

SEASAT and similar satellites use microwave beams to measure sea level, which can be accurate to +/- 2 cm. They also observe variations in the gravitational pull caused by the variable elevation and mass of seabed features to infer bathymetry. Microwave beams and gravity are the most commonly used methods for satellite observations of the ocean. The other options listed (accelerometers, magnetism, infrared radiation, temperature and heat effects, surveying telescopes, and tidal pull) are either not relevant to current satellite technology or not commonly used for observing the ocean.

Satellites Like SEASAT Can Observe the Ocean Using ________ to Measure