Problem

After the crash-landing, the only trace of the plane is an EPIRB that has been activated and received by a SARSAT satellite riding down the -76.0 degrees longitude line. Based on the satellite's received waveform, the problem consists in providing a "best estimate" of where the jet crashed so that the Coast Guard can be dispatched [2].

A file containing the SARSAT's measured carrier frequency as a function of time has been provided. A less accurate plot of this data is shown in Figure 1. This particular satellite is making an upwards orbital swing (from south to north) and is precisely riding the -76.000 degrees longitude line during this recorded period. The time t = 0s corresponds to the moment that the satellite has crossed the equator [2].

Figure 1: SARSAT's measured carrier frequency as a function of time.