The private lecturer and research associate at the Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI-TUM) of the Technical University of Munich is passionate about developing algorithms for challenging marine environments, such as coastal areas, sea ice and storm-affected regions. His studies, based on data collected by ESA and other space organizations, look at the dynamics of sea level in areas that affect people and infrastructure.
Passaro has developed advanced algorithms to overcome the challenges of measuring sea level changes and wave heights in coastal regions. His work has led to the development of global, multi-mission altimetry products, including the eXtended TRACKing and Adaptive Leading Edge Subset (XTRACK/ALES) dataset as well as the OpenADB ALES dataset, which have provided unprecedented insights into sea level rise in coastal areas. The innovative approach has advanced oceanography, climate science, and coastal engineering, offering new understanding of sea level trends, tidal modelling, and wave energy distribution.
His research includes the algorithm development for the ESA Sea Level Climate Change Initiative and Sea State Climate Change Initiative projects. Passaro's scientific work focuses on techniques to improve the quantity, quality and usability of satellite altimetry data in coastal areas while allowing precise measurements in the open ocean. He receives a grant of up to 35,000 euros from ESA for his work.
The award ceremony will take place during the ESA Living Planet Symposium in Vienna in June.
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