Global ocean circulation patterns based on seasat altimeter data and the GEML2 gravity field |
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Authors: | Theo Engelis Richard H Rapp |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Geodetic Science and Surveying, The Ohio State University, 43210 Columbus, Ohio, USA;(2) Department of Geodetic Science and Surveying, The Ohio State University, 43210 Columbus, Ohio, USA |
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Abstract: | The Seasat altimeter data has been completely adjusted by a crossing arc technique to reduce the crossover discrepancies to
approximately ±30 cm in five regional adjustments. This data was then used to create sea surface heights at 1° intersections
in the ocean areas with respect to the GRS80 ellipsoid. These heights excluded the direct tidal effects but included the induced
permanent deformation.
A geoid corresponding to these sea surface heights was computed, based on the potential coefficients of the GEML2 gravity
field up to degree 6, augmented by Rapp's coefficients up to degree 180. The differences between sea surface heights and the
geoid were computed to give approximate estimates of sea surface topography. These estimates are dominated by errors in both
sea surface heights and geoid undulations. To optimally determine sea surface topography a spherical harmonic analysis of
raw estimates was carried out and the series was further truncated at degree 6, giving estimates with minimum wavelengths
on the order of 6000 km.
The direction of current flow can be computed on a global basis using the spherical harmonic expansion of the sea surface
topography. Ths has been done, not only for Seasat/GEML2 estimates, but also using the recent dynamic topography estimates
of Levitus. The results of the two solutions are very similar and agree well with the major circulation features of the oceans. |
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