The validation of the significant wave height product of HY-2 altimeter-primary results

The HY-2 satellite was successfully launched on 16 August 2011. The HY-2 significant wave height (SWH) is validated by the data from the South China Sea (SCS) field experiment, National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoys and Jason-1/2 altimeters, and is corrected using a linear regression with in-situ measurements. Compared with NDBC SWH, the HY-2 SWH show a RMS of 0.36 m, which is similar to Jason-1 and Jason-2 SWH with the RMS of 0.35mand 0.37mrespectively; the RMS of corrected HY-2 SWH is 0.27 m, similar to 0.27 m and 0.23 m of corrected Jason-1 and Jason-2 SWH. Therefore the accuracy of HY-2 SWH products is close to that of Jason-1/2 SWH, and the linear regression function derived can improve the accuracy of HY-2 SWH products.