The SWOT Science Simulator simulates projected SWOT altimetry observations that can be applied to an ocean general circulation model, allowing the exploration of ideas and methods to optimize information retrieval from the proposed SWOT Mission, which is currently baselined to launch in 2020.

(Left) Sea surface height from an ocean general circulation model interpolated on the SWOT grid. (Center) Random realization of the total SWOT noise with the default parameters of the software. (Right) Observed sea surface height (sum of left and center).
From sea surface height (SSH) inputs, the software samples SWOT-like outputs on a swath along the orbit ground track, and adds noise signals. The noise signals represent instrument and geophysical errors, generated randomly following technical characteristics provided by the SWOT project team, and the knowledge of geophysical parameters. Not designed to directly simulate the anticipated payload instrument responses, this SWOT science simulator aims to provide statistically realistic outputs for the science community in an open-source and lightweight tool. The software is scalable and designed to support future refinements of orbital parameters, error budget estimations from the project team, and suggestions from the science community.

This work was done by Clement F. Ubelmann of Caltech and Lucile M. Gaultier for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Dan Broderick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Refer to NPO-49608.



This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Document cover
Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) Science Simulator

(reference NPO49608) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

Don't have an account? Sign up here.