Articles | Volume 11, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-67-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-67-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
13 Jan 2015
Research article |
| 13 Jan 2015
Improved sea level record over the satellite altimetry era (1993–2010) from the Climate Change Initiative project
M. Ablain
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Collecte Localisation Satellite (CLS), Ramonville Saint-Agne, France
A. Cazenave
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Toulouse, France
G. Larnicol
Collecte Localisation Satellite (CLS), Ramonville Saint-Agne, France
M. Balmaseda
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Reading, UK
P. Cipollini
National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Southampton, UK
Y. Faugère
Collecte Localisation Satellite (CLS), Ramonville Saint-Agne, France
M. J. Fernandes
Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
O. Henry
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Toulouse, France
J. A. Johannessen
Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC), Bergen, Norway
P. Knudsen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
O. Andersen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Lyngby, Denmark
J. Legeais
Collecte Localisation Satellite (CLS), Ramonville Saint-Agne, France
B. Meyssignac
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Toulouse, France
N. Picot
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Toulouse, France
M. Roca
isardSAT, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
S. Rudenko
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg 14473 Potsdam, Germany
M. G. Scharffenberg
University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
D. Stammer
University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
G. Timms
CGI, London, UK
J. Benveniste
European Space Agency (ESA), ESRIN, Frascati, Italy
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This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Sandrine Mulet, Marie-Hélène Rio, Hélène Etienne, Camilia Artana, Mathilde Cancet, Gérald Dibarboure, Hui Feng, Romain Husson, Nicolas Picot, Christine Provost, and P. Ted Strub
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This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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Since the mid-1990s, a series of FES (finite element solution) global ocean tidal atlases has been produced with the primary objective to provide altimetry missions with a tidal de-aliasing correction. We describe the underlying hydrodynamic/data assimilation design and accuracy assessments for the FES2014 release. The FES2014 atlas shows overall improved performance and has consequently been integrated in satellite altimetry and gravimetric data processing and adopted in ITRF standards.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Loren Carrere, Brian K. Arbic, Brian Dushaw, Gary Egbert, Svetlana Erofeeva, Florent Lyard, Richard D. Ray, Clément Ubelmann, Edward Zaron, Zhongxiang Zhao, Jay F. Shriver, Maarten Cornelis Buijsman, and Nicolas Picot
Ocean Sci., 17, 147–180, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-147-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-147-2021, 2021
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Internal tides can have a signature of several centimeters at the ocean surface and need to be corrected from altimeter measurements. We present a detailed validation of several internal-tide models using existing satellite altimeter databases. The analysis focuses on the main diurnal and semidiurnal tidal constituents. Results show the interest of the methodology proposed, the quality of the internal-tide models tested and their positive contribution for estimating an accurate sea level.
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Clara Lázaro, Maria Joana Fernandes, Telmo Vieira, and Eliana Vieira
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 12, 3205–3228, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-3205-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-3205-2020, 2020
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In satellite altimetry (SA), the wet tropospheric correction (WTC) accounts for the path delay induced mainly by atmospheric water vapour. In coastal regions, the accuracy of the WTC determined by the on-board radiometer deteriorates. The GPD+ methodology, developed by the University of Porto in the remit of ESA-funded projects, computes improved WTCs for SA. Global enhanced products are generated for all past and operational altimetric missions, forming a relevant dataset for coastal altimetry.
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Yvan Gouzenes, Fabien Léger, Anny Cazenave, Florence Birol, Pascal Bonnefond, Marcello Passaro, Fernando Nino, Rafael Almar, Olivier Laurain, Christian Schwatke, Jean-François Legeais, and Jérôme Benveniste
Ocean Sci., 16, 1165–1182, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-1165-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-1165-2020, 2020
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This study provides for the first time estimates of sea level anomalies very close to the coastline based on high-resolution retracked altimetry data, as well as corresponding sea level trends, over a 14-year time span. This new information has so far not been provided by standard altimetry data.
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Michael Kern, Robert Cullen, Bruno Berruti, Jerome Bouffard, Tania Casal, Mark R. Drinkwater, Antonio Gabriele, Arnaud Lecuyot, Michael Ludwig, Rolv Midthassel, Ignacio Navas Traver, Tommaso Parrinello, Gerhard Ressler, Erik Andersson, Cristina Martin-Puig, Ole Andersen, Annett Bartsch, Sinead Farrell, Sara Fleury, Simon Gascoin, Amandine Guillot, Angelika Humbert, Eero Rinne, Andrew Shepherd, Michiel R. van den Broeke, and John Yackel
The Cryosphere, 14, 2235–2251, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2235-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2235-2020, 2020
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The Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter will provide high-resolution sea ice thickness and land ice elevation measurements and the capability to determine the properties of snow cover on ice to serve operational products and services of direct relevance to the polar regions. This paper describes the mission objectives, identifies the key contributions the CRISTAL mission will make, and presents a concept – as far as it is already defined – for the mission payload.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Maxime Ballarotta, Clément Ubelmann, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Guillaume Taburet, Florent Fournier, Jean-François Legeais, Yannice Faugère, Antoine Delepoulle, Dudley Chelton, Gérald Dibarboure, and Nicolas Picot
Ocean Sci., 15, 1091–1109, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-1091-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-1091-2019, 2019
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This study investigates the resolving capabilities of the DUACS gridded products delivered through the CMEMS catalogue. Our method is based on the noise-to-signal ratio approach. While altimeter along-track data resolve scales on the order of a few tens of kilometers, we found that the merging of these along-track data into continuous maps in time and space leads to effective resolution ranging from ~ 800 km wavelength at the Equator to 100 km wavelength at high latitude.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Michaël Ablain, Benoît Meyssignac, Lionel Zawadzki, Rémi Jugier, Aurélien Ribes, Giorgio Spada, Jerôme Benveniste, Anny Cazenave, and Nicolas Picot
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 1189–1202, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1189-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1189-2019, 2019
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A description of the uncertainties in the Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL) record has been performed; 25 years of satellite altimetry data were used to estimate the error variance–covariance matrix for the GMSL record to derive its confidence envelope. Then a least square approach was used to estimate the GMSL trend and acceleration uncertainties over any time periods. A GMSL trend of 3.35 ± 0.4 mm/yr and a GMSL acceleration of 0.12 ± 0.07 mm/yr² have been found within a 90 % confidence level.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Malcolm McMillan, Alan Muir, Andrew Shepherd, Roger Escolà, Mònica Roca, Jérémie Aublanc, Pierre Thibaut, Marco Restano, Américo Ambrozio, and Jérôme Benveniste
The Cryosphere, 13, 709–722, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-709-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-709-2019, 2019
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Melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is one of the main causes of current sea level rise. Understanding ice sheet change requires large-scale systematic satellite monitoring programmes. This study provides the first assessment of a new long-term source of measurements, from Sentinel-3 satellite altimetry. We estimate the accuracy of Sentinel-3 across Antarctica, show that the satellite can detect regions that are rapidly losing ice, and identify signs of subglacial lake activity.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Sergei Rudenko, Saskia Esselborn, Tilo Schöne, and Denise Dettmering
Solid Earth, 10, 293–305, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-293-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-293-2019, 2019
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A terrestrial reference frame (TRF) realization is a basis for precise orbit determination of Earth-orbiting artificial satellites and sea level studies. We investigate the impact of a switch from an older TRF realization (ITRF2008) to a new one (ITRF2014) on the quality of orbits of three altimetry satellites (TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, and Jason-2) for 1992–2015, but especially from 2009 onwards, and on altimetry products computed using the satellite orbits derived using ITRF2014.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Christian Gruber, Sergei Rudenko, Andreas Groh, Dimitrios Ampatzidis, and Elisa Fagiolini
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 1203–1218, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-1203-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-1203-2018, 2018
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By using a set of evaluation methods involving GPS, ICESat, hydrological modelling and altimetry satellite orbits, we show that the novel radial basis function (RBF) processing technique can be used for processing the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data yielding global gravity field models which fit independent reference values at the same level as commonly accepted global geopotential models based on spherical harmonics.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
WCRP Global Sea Level Budget Group
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 10, 1551–1590, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1551-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1551-2018, 2018
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Global mean sea level is an integral of changes occurring in the climate system in response to unforced climate variability as well as natural and anthropogenic forcing factors. Studying the sea level budget, i.e., comparing observed global mean sea level to the sum of components (ocean thermal expansion, glaciers and ice sheet mass loss as well as changes in land water storage) improves our understanding of processes at work and provides constraints on missing contributions (e.g., deep ocean).
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Chao Xiong, Hermann Lühr, Michael Schmidt, Mathis Bloßfeld, and Sergei Rudenko
Ann. Geophys., 36, 1141–1152, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1141-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1141-2018, 2018
Graham D. Quartly, Eero Rinne, Marcello Passaro, Ole B. Andersen, Salvatore Dinardo, Sara Fleury, Kevin Guerreiro, Amandine Guillot, Stefan Hendricks, Andrey A. Kurekin, Felix L. Müller, Robert Ricker, Henriette Skourup, and Michel Tsamados
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2018-148, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2018-148, 2018
Revised manuscript not accepted
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Radar altimetry is a high-precision technique for measuring sea level and sea ice thickness from space, which are important for monitoring ocean circulation, sea level rise and changes in the Arctic ice cover. This paper reviews the processing techniques needed to best extract the information from complicated radar echoes, and considers the likely developments in the coming decade.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Fabrice Ardhuin, Yevgueny Aksenov, Alvise Benetazzo, Laurent Bertino, Peter Brandt, Eric Caubet, Bertrand Chapron, Fabrice Collard, Sophie Cravatte, Jean-Marc Delouis, Frederic Dias, Gérald Dibarboure, Lucile Gaultier, Johnny Johannessen, Anton Korosov, Georgy Manucharyan, Dimitris Menemenlis, Melisa Menendez, Goulven Monnier, Alexis Mouche, Frédéric Nouguier, George Nurser, Pierre Rampal, Ad Reniers, Ernesto Rodriguez, Justin Stopa, Céline Tison, Clément Ubelmann, Erik van Sebille, and Jiping Xie
Ocean Sci., 14, 337–354, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-337-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-337-2018, 2018
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The Sea surface KInematics Multiscale (SKIM) monitoring mission is a proposal for a future satellite that is designed to measure ocean currents and waves. Using a Doppler radar, the accurate measurement of currents requires the removal of the mean velocity due to ocean wave motions. This paper describes the main processing steps needed to produce currents and wave data from the radar measurements. With this technique, SKIM can provide unprecedented coverage and resolution, over the global ocean.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Saskia Esselborn, Sergei Rudenko, and Tilo Schöne
Ocean Sci., 14, 205–223, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-205-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-205-2018, 2018
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Global and regional sea level changes are the subject of public and scientific concern. Sea level data from satellite radar altimetry rely on precise knowledge of the orbits. We assess the orbit-related uncertainty of sea level on seasonal to decadal timescales for the 1990s from a set of TOPEX/Poseidon orbit solutions. Orbit errors may hinder the estimation of global mean sea level rise acceleration. The uncertainty of sea level trends due to orbit errors reaches regionally up to 1.2 mm yr−1.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Jean-François Legeais, Michaël Ablain, Lionel Zawadzki, Hao Zuo, Johnny A. Johannessen, Martin G. Scharffenberg, Luciana Fenoglio-Marc, M. Joana Fernandes, Ole Baltazar Andersen, Sergei Rudenko, Paolo Cipollini, Graham D. Quartly, Marcello Passaro, Anny Cazenave, and Jérôme Benveniste
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 10, 281–301, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-281-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-281-2018, 2018
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Sea level is one of the best indicators of climate change and has been listed as one of the essential climate variables. Sea level measurements have been provided by satellite altimetry for 25 years, and the Climate Change Initiative (CCI) program of the European Space Agency has given the opportunity to provide a long-term, homogeneous and accurate sea level record. It will help scientists to better understand climate change and its variability.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Graham D. Quartly, Jean-François Legeais, Michaël Ablain, Lionel Zawadzki, M. Joana Fernandes, Sergei Rudenko, Loren Carrère, Pablo Nilo García, Paolo Cipollini, Ole B. Andersen, Jean-Christophe Poisson, Sabrina Mbajon Njiche, Anny Cazenave, and Jérôme Benveniste
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 9, 557–572, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-557-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-557-2017, 2017
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We have produced an improved monthly record of mean sea level for 1993–2015. It is developed by careful processing of the records from nine satellite altimeter missions, making use of the best available orbits, instrumental corrections and geophysical corrections. This paper details the selection process and the processing method. The data are suitable for investigation of sea level changes at scales from seasonal to long-term sea level rise, including interannual variations due to El Niño.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Christopher J. Merchant, Frank Paul, Thomas Popp, Michael Ablain, Sophie Bontemps, Pierre Defourny, Rainer Hollmann, Thomas Lavergne, Alexandra Laeng, Gerrit de Leeuw, Jonathan Mittaz, Caroline Poulsen, Adam C. Povey, Max Reuter, Shubha Sathyendranath, Stein Sandven, Viktoria F. Sofieva, and Wolfgang Wagner
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 9, 511–527, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-511-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-9-511-2017, 2017
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Climate data records (CDRs) contain data describing Earth's climate and should address uncertainty in the data to communicate what is known about climate variability or change and what range of doubt exists. This paper discusses good practice for including uncertainty information in CDRs for the essential climate variables (ECVs) derived from satellite data. Recommendations emerge from the shared experience of diverse ECV projects within the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Eva Boergens, Karina Nielsen, Ole B. Andersen, Denise Dettmering, and Florian Seitz
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-217, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-217, 2017
Revised manuscript not accepted
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The water levels of the Mekong River are observed with the SAR altimeter measurements of CryoSat-2. Even small rivers in the river system with a width of 50 m can be observed due to the higher resolution of the SAR measurements. To identify the rivers regardless of a land-water-mask we employ an unsupervised classification on features derived from the SAR measurements. The river water levels are validated and compared to gauge and Envisat data which shows the good performance of the SAR data.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Yannice Faugère, Guillaume Taburet, Stéphanie Dupuy, Camille Pelloquin, Michael Ablain, and Nicolas Picot
Ocean Sci., 12, 1067–1090, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1067-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1067-2016, 2016
Jun She, Icarus Allen, Erik Buch, Alessandro Crise, Johnny A. Johannessen, Pierre-Yves Le Traon, Urmas Lips, Glenn Nolan, Nadia Pinardi, Jan H. Reißmann, John Siddorn, Emil Stanev, and Henning Wehde
Ocean Sci., 12, 953–976, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-953-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-953-2016, 2016
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This white paper addresses key scientific challenges and research priorities for the development of operational oceanography in Europe for the next 5–10 years. Knowledge gaps and deficiencies are identified in relation to common scientific challenges in four EuroGOOS knowledge areas: European ocean observations, modelling and forecasting technology, coastal operational oceanography, and operational ecology.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Loren Carrere, Yannice Faugère, and Michaël Ablain
Ocean Sci., 12, 825–842, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-825-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-825-2016, 2016
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New dynamic atmospheric (DAC_ERA) and dry tropospheric (DT_ERA) correction have been computed for the altimeter period using the ERA-Interim meteorological reanalysis. The corrections improve sea level estimations in Southern Ocean and in shallow waters; the impact is the most important for the first decade of altimetry, when operational meteorological models had a weaker quality. DT_ERA remains better in the recent period. New corrections significantly impact long-term regional trends.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Lionel Zawadzki, Michaël Ablain, Loren Carrere, Richard D. Ray, Nikita P. Zelensky, Florent Lyard, Amandine Guillot, and Nicolas Picot
Ocean Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/os-2016-19, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-2016-19, 2016
Preprint withdrawn
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Mean sea level (MSL) is a prominent indicator of climatic change, and is therefore of great scientific and societal interest. Since the beginning of the altimeter mission TOPEX/Poseidon and its successors Jason-1 and Jason-2, MSL products became essential for climate applications. Since 1995, a suspicious signal is apparent in the corresponding MSL record. Since 2010, scientific teams have been working on reducing this error. This paper assesses, characterizes and quantifies this reduction.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Jean-François Legeais, Pierre Prandi, and Stéphanie Guinehut
Ocean Sci., 12, 647–662, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-647-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-647-2016, 2016
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Sea level is a key indicator of climate change and has been monitored by satellite altimetry for more than 2 decades. The evaluation of the performances of the altimeter missions can be performed by comparison with in situ-independent measurements from Argo profiling floats. This allows for the detection of altimeter drift and the estimation of the impact of a new altimeter standard. This study aims at characterizing the errors of the method thanks to sensitivity analyses to different parameters.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
L. Zawadzki and M. Ablain
Ocean Sci., 12, 9–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-9-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-9-2016, 2016
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The reference mean sea level (MSL) record, essential for understanding climate evolution, is derived from the altimetric measurements of the TOPEX/Poseidon mission, followed by Jason-1 and later Jason-2 on the same orbit. Soon, Jason-3 will be launched on the same historical orbit, followed by Sentinel-3a on a new one. This paper shows linking missions with the same orbit enables meeting climate user requirements regarding the MSL trend while using Sentinel-3a would increase the uncertainty.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
H. B. Dieng, A. Cazenave, K. von Schuckmann, M. Ablain, and B. Meyssignac
Ocean Sci., 11, 789–802, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-789-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-789-2015, 2015
J.-F. Legeais, M. Ablain, and S. Thao
Ocean Sci., 10, 893–905, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-893-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-893-2014, 2014
S. Rudenko, N. Schön, M. Uhlemann, and G. Gendt
Solid Earth, 4, 23–41, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-23-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-23-2013, 2013
E. de Boisséson, M. A. Balmaseda, F. Vitart, and K. Mogensen
Ocean Sci., 8, 1071–1084, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-8-1071-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-8-1071-2012, 2012
Related subject area
Approach: Remote Sensing | Depth range: Surface | Geographical range: All Geographic Regions | Phenomena: Sea Level
Orbit-related sea level errors for TOPEX altimetry at seasonal to decadal timescales
A comparison of methods to estimate vertical land motion trends from GNSS and altimetry at tide gauge stations
GEM: a dynamic tracking model for mesoscale eddies in the ocean
El Niño, La Niña, and the global sea level budget
DUACS DT2014: the new multi-mission altimeter data set reprocessed over 20 years
Major improvement of altimetry sea level estimations using pressure-derived corrections based on ERA-Interim atmospheric reanalysis
Accuracy of the mean sea level continuous record with future altimetric missions: Jason-3 vs. Sentinel-3a
Technical Note: Watershed strategy for oceanic mesoscale eddy splitting
Evaluation of wet troposphere path delays from atmospheric reanalyses and radiometers and their impact on the altimeter sea level
From satellite altimetry to Argo and operational oceanography: three revolutions in oceanography
Evaluation of Release-05 GRACE time-variable gravity coefficients over the ocean
Saskia Esselborn, Sergei Rudenko, and Tilo Schöne
Ocean Sci., 14, 205–223, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-205-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-205-2018, 2018
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Global and regional sea level changes are the subject of public and scientific concern. Sea level data from satellite radar altimetry rely on precise knowledge of the orbits. We assess the orbit-related uncertainty of sea level on seasonal to decadal timescales for the 1990s from a set of TOPEX/Poseidon orbit solutions. Orbit errors may hinder the estimation of global mean sea level rise acceleration. The uncertainty of sea level trends due to orbit errors reaches regionally up to 1.2 mm yr−1.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Marcel Kleinherenbrink, Riccardo Riva, and Thomas Frederikse
Ocean Sci., 14, 187–204, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-187-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-187-2018, 2018
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Tide gauges observe sea level changes, but are also affected by vertical land motion (VLM). Estimation of absolute sea level requires a correction for the local VLM. VLM is either estimated from GNSS observations or indirectly by subtracting tide gauge observations from satellite altimetry observations. Because altimetry and GNSS observations are often not made at the tide gauge location, the estimates vary. In this study we determine the best approach for both methods.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Qiu-Yang Li, Liang Sun, and Sheng-Fu Lin
Ocean Sci., 12, 1249–1267, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1249-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1249-2016, 2016
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The Genealogical Evolution Model (GEM) is an efficient logical model used to track dynamic evolution of mesoscale eddies in the ocean. It can distinguish different dynamic processes (e.g., merging and splitting) within a dynamic evolution pattern with a two-dimensional vector. All of the computational steps are linear and do not include iteration. It is very fast and is potentially useful for studying dynamic processes in other related fields, e.g., the dynamics of cyclones in meteorology.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Christopher G. Piecuch and Katherine J. Quinn
Ocean Sci., 12, 1165–1177, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1165-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1165-2016, 2016
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We use satellite and in situ data to elucidate global-mean sea level (GMSL) changes related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) over 2005–2015. Steric and mass effects make comparable contributions to the GMSL budget during ENSO, in contrast to previous interpretations based largely on hydrological models, which emphasize mass contributions. Results exemplify the usefulness of the Global Ocean Observing System for understanding the Earth's radiation imbalance and hydrological cycle.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Yannice Faugère, Guillaume Taburet, Stéphanie Dupuy, Camille Pelloquin, Michael Ablain, and Nicolas Picot
Ocean Sci., 12, 1067–1090, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1067-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-1067-2016, 2016
Loren Carrere, Yannice Faugère, and Michaël Ablain
Ocean Sci., 12, 825–842, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-825-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-825-2016, 2016
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New dynamic atmospheric (DAC_ERA) and dry tropospheric (DT_ERA) correction have been computed for the altimeter period using the ERA-Interim meteorological reanalysis. The corrections improve sea level estimations in Southern Ocean and in shallow waters; the impact is the most important for the first decade of altimetry, when operational meteorological models had a weaker quality. DT_ERA remains better in the recent period. New corrections significantly impact long-term regional trends.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
L. Zawadzki and M. Ablain
Ocean Sci., 12, 9–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-9-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-9-2016, 2016
Short summary
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The reference mean sea level (MSL) record, essential for understanding climate evolution, is derived from the altimetric measurements of the TOPEX/Poseidon mission, followed by Jason-1 and later Jason-2 on the same orbit. Soon, Jason-3 will be launched on the same historical orbit, followed by Sentinel-3a on a new one. This paper shows linking missions with the same orbit enables meeting climate user requirements regarding the MSL trend while using Sentinel-3a would increase the uncertainty.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
Q. Y. Li and L. Sun
Ocean Sci., 11, 269–273, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-269-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-269-2015, 2015
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This study established a splitting strategy that could separate multinuclear eddies into mononuclear eddies. As the values of eddy parameters (e.g. SLA, geostrophic potential vorticity, Okubo–Weiss parameter) are similar to basins in a map, the natural divisions of the basins are the watersheds between them. It can also be applied to automatic identification of troughs and ridges from weather charts. We denoted it the Universal Splitting Technology for Circulations (USTC) method.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
J.-F. Legeais, M. Ablain, and S. Thao
Ocean Sci., 10, 893–905, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-893-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-10-893-2014, 2014
P. Y. Le Traon
Ocean Sci., 9, 901–915, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-9-901-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-9-901-2013, 2013
D. P. Chambers and J. A. Bonin
Ocean Sci., 8, 859–868, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-8-859-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-8-859-2012, 2012
Cited articles
Ablain, M., Cazenave, A., Valladeau, G., and Guinehut, S.: A new assessment of the error budget of global mean sea level rate estimated by satellite altimetry over 1993–2008, Ocean Sci., 5, 193–201, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-5-193-2009, 2009.
Ablain, M., Philipps, S., Urvoy, M., Tran, N., and Picot, N.: Detection of Long-Term Instabilities on Altimeter Backscattering Coefficient Thanks to Wind Speed Data Comparisons from Altimeters and Models, Mar. Geodesy, 35, 42–60, https://doi.org/10.1080/01490419.2012.718675, 2012.
Ablain, M., Ollivier, A., Philipps, S., and Picot, N.: Why altimetry errors at climate scales are larger in the first decade (1993–2002)?, OSTST Boulders, October 2013, available at: http://www.aviso.altimetry.fr/fileadmin/documents/OSTST/2013/posters/Ablain_AltimetryErrorAtClimateScales.pdf (last access: 20 June 2014), 2013.
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Short summary
This paper presents various respective data improvements achieved within the European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI) project on sea level during its first phase (2010-2013), using multi-mission satellite altimetry data over the 1993-2010 time span.
This paper presents various respective data improvements achieved within the European Space...
