TOPEX/Poseidon
Okay kiddo, let's talk about Topex/Poseidon! Have you ever heard of a satellite? It's kind of like a really special camera that can take pictures of the Earth from way up high in space. Well, Topex/Poseidon is a special kind of satellite that does more than just take pictures. Its job is to measure the height of the ocean!
Now, you might be wondering, "How can a satellite measure the height of the ocean?" That's a great question! You see, Topex/Poseidon has a really special instrument called an altimeter. The altimeter sends out a signal, kind of like a radar, that bounces off the surface of the ocean and comes back up to the satellite. By measuring how long it takes the signal to travel back and forth, the altimeter can tell how far away the surface of the ocean is! Pretty cool, huh?
So why is it important to measure the height of the ocean? Well, it helps us understand things like ocean currents and how the Earth's climate is changing. By studying the data that Topex/Poseidon collects, scientists can make better predictions about things like hurricanes and sea level rise.
Topex/Poseidon was actually launched way back in 1992, but it's still up there doing its job today! And it's not the only satellite measuring the ocean - there are lots of others like it out there, all working together to help us learn more about our amazing planet.
Now, you might be wondering, "How can a satellite measure the height of the ocean?" That's a great question! You see, Topex/Poseidon has a really special instrument called an altimeter. The altimeter sends out a signal, kind of like a radar, that bounces off the surface of the ocean and comes back up to the satellite. By measuring how long it takes the signal to travel back and forth, the altimeter can tell how far away the surface of the ocean is! Pretty cool, huh?
So why is it important to measure the height of the ocean? Well, it helps us understand things like ocean currents and how the Earth's climate is changing. By studying the data that Topex/Poseidon collects, scientists can make better predictions about things like hurricanes and sea level rise.
Topex/Poseidon was actually launched way back in 1992, but it's still up there doing its job today! And it's not the only satellite measuring the ocean - there are lots of others like it out there, all working together to help us learn more about our amazing planet.