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Abstract
Ocean Geostrophy from Satellite Altimetry and GOCE Data
Dr Jose M SANCHEZ-REALES(1), Dr Isabel VIGO(1), Dr Shuanggen JIN(2), Dr Benjaming Fong CHAO(3)
(1) University of Alicante, Spain
(2) Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, China
(3) Academia Sinica, Taiwan
Session theme: The Geoid, Mean Sea Surfaces and Mean Dynamic Topography
Abstract
The geostrophic currents are the result of the geostrophy balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force. In lack of direct observations, the surface geostrophic currents (SGC) can be derived from the ocean dynamic height as a function of space and time. The dynamic height is the current-induced deviation of the actual sea level (e. g. observed by satellite altimetry) from the Earth's geoid (e. g. estimated from satellite gravimetry). In this paper, we evaluate the capabilities of a 'full-potential' geoid estimated from the first 61-days cycle of the GOCE mission in estimating the global mean SGC that are derived and analyzed against a combined solution of several altimetric satellites (T/P, Jason 1/2, ERS-1/2, GEOSAT). Results are compared with those obtained from a GRACE-induced mean geoid for the period 2002/08-2009/08, as well as with mean circulation patterns from drifter buoys and from simulations of the ECCO Ocean General Circulation Model. We found GOCE clearly leads to significant improvements in determination and resolution of SGC globally except at the Equator (where special filtering of data is needed), with velocities and spatial patterns much closer to in-situ measurements of currents than those from GRACE data or ECCO model simulations.
Corresponding author:
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Dr Jose M Sanchez-Reales
Univerisity of Alicante
Departamento de Matemática Aplicada
Escuela Politécnica Superior, Edificio 2
Universidad de Alicante
Ctra Sant Vicent del Raspeig s/n
E03690 San Vicente del Raspeig - Alicante - España
03690 Alicante
Spain
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