Ocean Science
Ocean Science
OS
Articles | Volume 21, issue 1
Articles | Volume 21, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-181-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-181-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 21, issue 1
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
27 Jan 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 27 Jan 2025

The alongshore tilt of mean dynamic topography and its implications for model validation and ocean monitoring

Christoph Renkl, Eric C. J. Oliver, and Keith R. Thompson

Viewed

Total article views: 785 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
567 103 115 785 27 24
  • HTML: 567
  • PDF: 103
  • XML: 115
  • Total: 785
  • BibTeX: 27
  • EndNote: 24
Views and downloads (calculated since 28 May 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 28 May 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 785 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 730 with geography defined and 55 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 11 Mar 2025
Download
Co-editor-in-chief
It is shown that newly available geodesy combined with suitably located coastal tide gauges is accurate enough for validating model predictions of coastal mean dynamic topography (MDT). Moreover, alongshore differences of MDT can provide estimates of (1) average alongshore current and (2) area-integrated nearshore circulation. Thereby estimates of MDT from geodesy and tide-gauges have value for ocean monitoring.
Read more
Short summary
Mean dynamic topography (MDT) describes variations in the mean sea surface height above a reference surface called a geoid. We show that MDT predicted by a regional ocean model, including a significant tilt of several centimeters along the coast of Nova Scotia, is in good agreement with estimates based on sea level observations. We demonstrate that this alongshore tilt of MDT can provide a direct estimate of the average alongshore current and also of the area-integrated nearshore circulation.
Read more
Share
Special issue
Oceanography at coastal scales: modelling, coupling, observations,...