The joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 launches into Earth orbit. Jason 1 joins its orbiting cousin, the venerable Topex/Poseidon satellite, to continue observations of the global climate interaction occurring between the sea and the atmosphere as a result of stored solar energy.

Instruments on the satellite will map variations in ocean surface topography to monitor world ocean circulation, study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve climate predictions and observe events like El Nino.

See also: Jason 1 home page

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