Modelling bathymetry by inverting satellite altimetry data: A review

With the advent of satellite altimetry it has become possible to determine the gravity field of the oceans on a global scale. This set of data can be used to predict the bathymetry of deep-seafloor features such as seamounts and ridges. During the last two decades, several algorithms which can be used to develop bathymetric predictions from satellite altimeter data have been published. The characteristics and quality of these algorithms are reviewed in this study. Based on this analysis, we suggest some guidelines for processing data towards the production of maps showing predicted bathymetry for economical purposes.     

Absolute sea level variability of Arctic Ocean in 1993–2018 from satellite altimetry and tide gauge observations

Arctic absolute sea level variations were analyzed based on multi-mission satellite altimetry data and tide gauge observations for the period of 1993–2018. The range of linear absolute sea level trends were found ?2.00 mm/a to 6.88 mm/a excluding the central Arctic, positive trend rates were predominantly located in shallow water and coastal areas, and negative rates were located in high-latitude areas and Baffin Bay. Satellite-derived results show that the average secular absolute sea level trend was (2.53±0.42) mm/a in the Arctic region. Large differences were presented between satellite-derived and tide gauge results, which are mainly due to low satellite data coverage, uncertainties in tidal height processing and vertical land movement (VLM). The VLM rates at 11 global navigation satellite system stations around the Arctic Ocean were analyzed, among which 6 stations were tide gauge co-located, the results indicate that the absolute sea level trends after VLM corrected were of the same magnitude as satellite altimetry results. Accurately calculating VLM is the primary uncertainty in interpreting tide gauge measurements such that differences between tide gauge and satellite altimetry data are attributable generally to VLM.     

The impact of the M2 internal tide on data-assimilative model estimates of the surface tide

We use a synthetic data experiment to assess the accuracy of ocean tides estimated from satellite altimetry data, with emphasis on the impact of the phase-locked internal tide, which has a surface expression of several centimeters near its sites of genesis. Previous tidal estimates have regarded this signal as a random measurement error; however, it is deterministic and not scale-separated from the barotropic (surface) tide around complex bathymetric features. The synthetic data experiments show that the internal tide has a negligible impact on the barotropic tidal fields inferred under these circumstances, and the barotropic dissipation (a quadratic functional of the tidal fields) is in good agreement with the energetics of the three-dimensional regional primitive equations model which is the source of the synthetic data.     

Assimilation of the Data of Satellite Altimetry in an Eddy-Resolving Model of Circulation of the Black Sea

The data of satellite altimetry are used to simulate the Black-Sea circulation. The altimetry data of the TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS satellites are prepared within the framework of the NASA Ocean Altimeter Pathfinder project. The additional data processing is performed to compute the dynamic level reflecting the circulation of the Black Sea. The altimetry sea-level is assimilated in an eddy-resolving model of circulation of the Black Sea based on primitive equations. The accuracy of the obtained fields of temperature and salinity is estimated by comparing with the data of large-scale hydrographic surveys according to the ComSBlack program. The prognostic capabilities of the proposed model are estimated by comparing the obtained results with the fields computed with the help of assimilation of the altimetry data.     

几款全球海底地形模型比较分析

近几十年,随着卫星测高技术和相关数据精密处理技术发展,依托卫星测高技术业已成为快速获取全球海底地形数据的可靠手段,国内外相关组织机构已发布了一系列全球海底地形模型。整理评述了多款全球海底地形的基本情况,以及相互间的内在联系,包括DBDB系列模型、ETOPO系列模型、Sandwell系列模型、GEBCO系列模型、SRTM+系列模型、EARTH地形球谐系数模型、BAT_VGG模型、BAT_WHU2020模型、STO_IEU2020模型等。通过对全球海底地形模型的认识和梳理,以期为下一步全球海底地形模型高效、低成本构建提供方法参考。     

Extension of Satellite Altimetry Jason-2 Sea Level Anomalies Towards the Red Sea Coast Using Polynomial Harmonic Techniques

Satellite altimetry data are facing big challenges near the coasts. These challenges arise due to the fundamental difficulties of correction and land contamination in the foot print, which result in rejection of these data near the coast. Several studies have been carried out to extend these data towards the coast. Over the Red Sea, altimetry data consist of gaps, which extend to about 30–50 km from the coast. Two methods are used for processing and extending Jason-2 satellite altimetry sea level anomalies (SLAs) towards the Red Sea coast; Fourier Series Model (FSM), and the polynomial sum of sine model (SSM). FSM model technique uses Fourier series and statistical analysis reflects strong relationship with both the observation and AVISO data, with strong and positive correlation. The second prediction technique, SSM model, depends on the polynomial sum of sine, and does not reflect any relationship with the observations and AVISO data close to the coast and the correlation coefficient (CC) is weak and negative. The FSM model output results in SLA data significantly better and more accurate than the SSM model output.     

多源数据推求的西太平洋区域海面动力地形比较分析

简述利用空间大地测量观测数据和海洋水文数据推求海面动力地形的方法。基于EGM96重力场模型和卫星重力恢复的重力场模型GL04C,联合卫星测高平均海面高模型分别推算西太平洋海域的平均海面动力地形,并与根据海洋水文数据推算之结果进行比较分析。结果表明:卫星重力场模型GL04C更好地表现了海面地形的细节特征。卫星重力和卫星测高的联合应用将成为确定海面动力地形的有效途径之一。     

海洋测绘信息处理新技术

着重对当前海洋测绘信息处理技术的几个研究热点进行了介绍,内容包括海陆基准的统一、海洋遥感图像的精校正、卫星测高和遥感测深技术,并对海洋测量信息处理与多元化表示作了简要的讨论。     

Wind wave characteristics based on visual Observations and satellite altimetry

Joint analysis of wind wave characteristics derived from the Voluntary Observing Ship data (VOS) and satellite altimetry is presented as the first step of the synthesis of different data sources. Global distributions of significant wave heights and periods along with wind speed are constructed using various techniques and empirical parameterizations. Good qualitative and quantitative agreement of VOS and satellite altimetry is found especially for regions with high spatio-temporal density of observations. The problems and prospects of the further development of the study are discussed in the context of global wave climatology and marine safety.     

Velocity measurements in the East Auckland Current north‐east of North Cape,New Zealand

Flow in the East Auckland Current (EAUC) system to the north‐east of North Cape, New Zealand is examined using data from two current meter mooring arrays, with supporting data from conductivity/temperature/depth (CTD) and satellite altimetry. Variable currents up to 45 cm s_–1 were observed. The variability was partly attributable to changes in position and strength of the North Cape Eddy whose centre lies some 150 km offshore. The observed flows across the mooring line correlate well with those estimated from satellite altimetry. This gives confidence in the use of the satellite data to estimate the transport variability in the EAUC in the 1992–2001 period. No seasonal cycle was found in the volume transports but rather broadband variability at periods longer than 100 days.     

Validation of ERS-1 and High-Resolution Satellite Gravity with in-situ Shipborne Gravity over the Indian Offshore Regions: Accuracies and Implications to Subsurface Modeling

Geoid and gravity anomalies derived from satellite altimetry are gradually gaining importance in marine geoscientific investigations. Keeping this in mind, we have validated ERS-1 (168 day repeat) altimeter data and very high-resolution free-air gravity data sets generated from Seasat, Geosat GM, ERS-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeters data with in-situ shipborne gravity data of both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea regions for the purpose of determining the consistencies and deviations. The RMS errors between high resolution satellite and ship gravity data vary from 2.7 to 6.0 mGal, while with ERS-1 data base the errors are as high as 16.5 mGal. We also have generated high resolution satellite gravity maps of different regions over the Indian offshore, which eventually have become much more accurate in extracting finer geological structures like 85° E Ridge, Swatch of no ground, Bombay High in comparison with ERS-1satellite-derived gravity maps. Results from the signal processing related studies over two specific profiles in the eastern and western offshore also clearly show the advantage of high resolution satellite gravity compared to the ERS-1 derived gravity with reference to ship gravity data.     

Altimetric Algorithm and Errors of Ocean Altimetry Using GNSS Reflection Signals

As a new remote sensing technology, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) reflection signals can be used to collect the information of ocean surface wind, surface roughness and sea surface height. Ocean altimetry based on GNSS reflection technique is of low cost and it is easy to obtain large amounts of data thanks to the global navigation satellite constellation. We can estimate the sea surface height as well as the position of the specular reflection point. This paper focuses on the study of the algorithm to determine the specular reflection point and altimetry equations to estimate the sea surface height over the reflection region. We derive the error equation of sea surface height based on the error propagation theory. Effects of the Doppler shift and the size of the glistening zone on the altimetry are discussed and analyzed at the same time. Finally, we calculate the sea surface height based on the simulated GNSS data within the whole day and verify the sea surface height errors according to the satellite elevation angles. The results show that the sea surface height can reach the precision of 6 cm for elevation angles of 55° to 90°, and the theoretical error and the calculated error are in good agreement.     

Comparison of Surface Current Data from In Situ Observations with Numerical-Model-Derived Data,Satellite Altimetry Measurement Data,and the Results of Dynamic Method Calculations for the Sea of Okhotsk near the Northwestern Coast of Kamchatka

Schemes of surface flows near northwestern Kamchatka are shown, compiled from in situ observation data, numerical-model-derived data, satellite altimetry measurement data, and results calculated by the dynamic method. The flow characteristics obtained by various methods are compared. No statistically significant linear dependence of the velocities of absolute and geostrophic currents were detected. A linear dependence was observed between the directions of geostrophic flows calculated by the standard dynamic method and from satellite altimetry data, as well as between directions measured by the Argonaut MD and the calculated model. We have estimated the fraction of the ageostrophic component in currents. According to geostrophic current calculations by different methods, it ranged from 86 to 93%. A significant limitation of this data is the difficulty of their interpretation. They may not always give a perfect representation of stable water circulation in the studied area under.     

Reconstruction of mean dynamic topography of the Black Sea for altimetry measurements

In this study a new approach for reconstructing the Mean Dynamic Topography of the Black Sea is applied. Constant observations (SVP measurements), drifters, and data of vertical sounding of the temperature and salt content together with measurements of sea level anomalies received from Topex/Poseidon mission satellite data were used. The absolute sea level received by altimetry data using the mean dynamic topography received during work was compared to the dynamic level received according to independent marine surveys. The comparison showed that the method represented in the study permits one to define more exactly the dynamic topography of the Black Sea when compared with the studies of previous authors. The results of this study will be useful to reconstruct the areas of the geostrophic currents according to satellite altimetry.     

Modification of Globwave satellite altimetry database for sea wave field diagnostics

A new database of ocean wave parameters has been created based on satellite altimetry observations. The basis was data from the European Space Agency project GlobWave (www.globwave.org), which was transformed to suit upcoming requirements for global wave analysis. The new database contains additional wave characteristics (altimetry wind speed estimated using different parametric models, steepness, period, and some quality control parameters). It provides up-to-date tools for mass data preprocessing. The new database makes it possible to optimize wave field diagnostics on regional and global scales. Using the Envisat and Jason-1 satellite missions as an the example, we demonstrate the specific features of using the initial GlobalWave data set and the modified database.     

Jason-2卫星波形重跟踪算法比较

为弥补测高数据在近海区域因为编辑准则被剔除而导致近海测量数据质量不高的缺点,利用5参数模型的两种形式和Ice-2模型对Jason-2卫星在中国南海部分海域的海洋回波波形进行了波形重跟踪的研究,并选择20个海洋回波波形,依据最小二乘原理进行计算、分析、对比,发现5参数模型的指数形式的结果和Ice-2模型结果非常接近。研究结果表明,在开阔的海域,对Jason-2波形进行3种方法波形重跟踪时,可以优先考虑Ice-2模型。波形重跟踪技术能够提高卫星测高数据利用率,为科学研究提供可靠的数据保障。     

基于ADS40无控条件的海岛礁地形测量方法研究

针对远离大陆的海岛礁地形测绘与高程基准转换困难的问题,基于ADS40航摄系统获取远离大陆的海岛礁区域遥感影像,按照GPS差分无地面控制点的空中三角测量模式实现海岛礁的地理定位,选择高精度的卫星测高模型实现海岛礁区域的高程基准转换。在某海域进行了ADS40测量作业与高程基准转换试验,结果表明,无地面控制点空中三角测量的平面精度达到0.587m;基于卫星测高模型进行垂直基准转换的精度与同步验潮水位观测法得到的高程传递精度相当。     

HY-2卫星高度计波高资料在集合最优插值同化中的应用研究——以台风“Lipee”为例

基于海浪模式SWAN（Simulating Waves Nearshore）,以台风“Lipee”为例,开展了集合最优插值（EnOI）同化HY-2卫星高度计有效波高（SWH）资料的台风浪数值预报影响研究。结果表明,利用HY-2卫星高度计波高资料结合EnOI方法进行同化,可有效改善海浪初始场质量,同化对绝对误差的改进可达15%,均方根误差改进14%。同化对预报误差、均方根误差都有一定程度的改进,其中在0~24 h预报时效内的改进最为明显,绝对误差可改进12%,均方根误差改进13%。研究结果不仅可为海洋预报、同化提供参考,而且可为进一步加强HY-2卫星高度计资料的应用提供技术支持。     

Estimating trends of the Mediterranean Sea level changes from tide gauge and satellite altimetry data (1993-2015)

The impact of climate change on sea level has received a great deal of attention by scientists worldwide. In this context, the problem of sea levels on global and regional scales have been analyzed in a number of studies based on tide gauges observations and satellite altimetry measurements. This study focuses on trend estimates from 18 high-quality tide gauge stations along the Mediterranean Sea coast. The seasonal Mann-Kendall test was run at a 5% significance level for each of the 18 stations for the period of 1993-2015 (satellite altimetry era). The results of this test indicate that the trends for 17 stations were statistically significant and showed an increase (no significant trend was observed only at one station). The rates of sea level change for the 17 stations that exhibit significant trends, estimated using seasonal Sen's approach, range after correction for Vertical Land Motion (VLM) from 1.48 to 8.72 mm/a for the period 1993-2015. Furthermore, the magnitude of change at the location of each tide gauge station was estimated using the satellite altimetry measurements. Thus, the results obtained agree with those from the tide-gauge data analysis.     

多波束测深质量评价方法分析

利用Caris多波束处理软件、Global Mapper图形处理和Surfer处理软件中三角网网格化的方法来处理多波束水深数据,从整个测量范围来做水深准确度检验,由传统的水深数据处理线统计发展到面统计,能更有效的评价多波束资料的质量,提高质量控制的水平。