The bias estimates are also quite coherent, to the centimetre
level or below, with the absolute results obtained by
the OCA team using an independent processing software,
at the same calibration sites, for the three missions. Some
investigations are nevertheless still needed to understand
the remaining discrepancies between these two absolute
estimations. In particular, the effect of the land contamination
on retracking techniques may have a significant impact
on the bias estimates. The results are also in good agreement
with the estimates of the other in situ calibration
teams, at both local (Harvest, Bass Strait and Gavdos calibration
sites) and global scales (Willis, 2011). Finally, the
use of the ocean dynamics correction generally homogenises
the results between the coast and the open ocean, which
is the expected effect and gives more steady mean bias
estimates.