Ocean Science
Ocean Science
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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

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Cited articles

Altamimi, Z., Collilieux, X., and Métivier, L.: ITRF2008: An Improved Solution of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, J. Geodesy, 85, 457–473, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-011-0444-4, 2011. a
Andersen, O. B. and Scharroo, R.: Range and Geophysical Corrections in Coastal Regions: And Implications for Mean Sea Surface Determination, in: Coastal Altimetry, edited by: Vignudelli, S., Kostianoy, A. G., Cipollini, P., and Benveniste, J., 103–145, Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12796-0_5, 2011. a
AVISO: FES2004 (Finite Element Solution) – Global tide, AVISO [data set], https://www.aviso.altimetry.fr/en/data/products/auxiliary-products/global-tide-fes.html (last access: 9 January 2017), 2017. a
Brink, K. H., Beardsley, R. C., Limeburner, R., Irish, J. D., and Caruso, M.: Long-Term Moored Array Measurements of Currents and Hydrography over Georges Bank: 1994–1999, Prog. Oceanogr., 82, 191–223, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2009.07.004, 2009. a
Butman, B., Beardsley, R. C., Magnell, B., Frye, D., Vermersch, J. A., Schlitz, R., Limeburner, R., Wright, W. R., and Noble, M. A.: Recent Observations of the Mean Circulation on Georges Bank, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 12, 569–591, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0485(1982)012<0569:ROOTMC>2.0.CO;2, 1982. a
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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.
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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.
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Special issue
Oceanography at coastal scales: modelling, coupling, observations,...