Altimetric

Altimetric is an adjective relating to altimetry, the measurement of heights or altitudes. The term is used in contexts where the height of an object, surface, or point relative to a reference datum is determined or analyzed. Altimetric data are generated by devices and methods that estimate vertical distance or elevation.

Common altimetric methods include barometric altimetry, which derives altitude from atmospheric pressure readings; radar or laser (lidar) altimetry, which measures distance to the ground or another surface using radio or light signals; and satellite altimetry, which uses radar or laser measurements from orbit to determine sea surface height or land elevations. GNSS-based methods can provide ellipsoidal height, often combined with geoid or orthometric corrections to yield heights above mean sea level.

Vertical datums are central to altimetric work. Heights must be referenced to a standard datum (for example, mean sea level or a geoid model) to be comparable. Corrections for atmospheric conditions, tides, atmospheric refraction, and instrument biases are commonly applied to improve accuracy.

Applications of altimetric data are wide-ranging. In aviation, altimetric measurements support altitude awareness and flight safety. In surveying and civil engineering, they contribute to topographic maps, flood modeling, and infrastructure planning. In Earth science and oceanography, satellite altimetry informs ocean circulation studies and sea level rise monitoring. Altimetric methods also underpin remote sensing, hazard assessment, and geographic information systems.

See also: altimeter, altimetry, radar altimetry, laser altimetry, GNSS height.