TanDEM-X DEM 2020 performance and further TanDEM-X topographic products

Kurzfassung

This paper presents a comprehensive performance analysis of the new TanDEM-X DEM 2020, the second global digital elevation model derived from data acquired by the TanDEM-X mission between 2017 and 2022. The paper primarily focuses on the assessment of its height error performance. On a global level, a performance analysis with high-resolution GNSS transects and ICESat data is presented. On a local level, we will compare the new TanDEM-X DEM 2020 with a Laser DEM from Cape Town in South Africa. TanDEM-X DEM 2020 demonstrates high vertical accuracies, comparable to the first TanDEM-X DEM (2010 – 2015). The absolute height accuracy remains on the order of 2 m LE90, confirming the high performance of the new global dataset despite the reduced acquisition redundancy. The paper concludes by introducing the three latest topographic products generated from TanDEM-X DEM data available to the science community: a global coastline, new DEMs over Greenland and an update of the widely used hydrological dataset HydroSHEDS.