Duacs is the Ssalto multimission altimeter data processing system. It serves in near-real time the main operational oceanography and climate forecasting centers in Europe and worldwide.

Ssalto/Duacs system processes data from all altimeter missions (Jason-1, T/P, Envisat, GFO, ERS-1 & 2 and even Geosat) to provide a consistent and homogeneous catalogue of products for varied applications, both for near real time applications and offline studies. Ssalto/Duacs Near-Real Time data are used, in particular, by Godae and its French contribution Mercator Océan. In delayed time, hundreds of teams retrieve historical Duacs datasets.

Latest Duacs maps (Sea Level Anomalies, top, Absolute Dynamic Topography, bottom). Browse through more of them through our "Sea views" interface

The latest version of the Duacs-DT software (v2.0) has been installed and activated on the production servers. It was used for a complete re-analysis of past and present altimetry (from ERS-1 to current missions) with the state-of-the-art corrections, models and references recommended for the next generation of Jason-1 & Envisat GDR, as well as CalVal and cross-calibration algorithms.

The latest version of the Duacs-NRT software (v8.1) has been installed and activated on the production servers. It is now running and all status and reports are nominal. The first NRT data were generated a couple of weeks ago in order to restore the availability of RT data for Envisat as soon as possible (more information).

The new versions of both components add some significant changes in altimetry processing and data availability so you might want to look at the release notes.

Duacs release notes

• Delayed Time (DT) and reanalysis (RAN) component: v2.0
  • New product class: regional products for the Black Sea
  • New data set available: Envisat Side B
  • New data set available: ERS-1 Geodetic phase
  • Data processing improvement: minor costal improvements
  • Data processing improvement: High resolution Dynamic Atmospheric Correction
  • Data processing improvement: New Mean Profiles
  • Upgraded input data (latest GDR version available).

• Near Real Time (NRT) component: v8.1
  • Data processing improvement: High resolution Dynamic Atmospheric Correction
  • Data processing change: GIM ionosphere correction for Envisat
  • Transparent for users: upgrades of controls and QC procedures

Upgrades and upcoming changes on Duacs

• Change in product class: end of the experimental phase on the Real Time data
• New product class: Black Sea regional data in NRT
• Data processing improvement: Costal improvements and impact on Level3 data
• Data processing improvement: towards an orbit error reduction process without a reference mission
• Online status & Key Performance Indicators
• Format upgrades & standards