Articles | Volume 21, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-283-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-283-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
30 Jan 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 30 Jan 2025
| 30 Jan 2025
Blending 2D topography images from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission into the altimeter constellation with the Level-3 multi-mission Data Unification and Altimeter Combination System (DUACS)
Gerald Dibarboure
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES), Toulouse, France
Cécile Anadon
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Frédéric Briol
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Emeline Cadier
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Robin Chevrier
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Antoine Delepoulle
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Yannice Faugère
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES), Toulouse, France
Alice Laloue
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Rosemary Morrow
Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Toulouse, France
Nicolas Picot
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES), Toulouse, France
Pierre Prandi
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Marie-Isabelle Pujol
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Matthias Raynal
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES), Toulouse, France
Anaelle Tréboutte
Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS), Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Clément Ubelmann
Datlas, Grenoble, France
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Cécile Kocha, Marine Liévin, Yann Pageot, Clémence Rubin, Victor Quet, Franck Octau, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Pierre Prandi, Sabine Philipps, Gerald Dibarboure, Isabelino Denis, Carolina Nogueira Loddo, and François Bignalet-Cazalet
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Ocean Sci., 21, 2915–2928, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2915-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2915-2025, 2025
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This study models wind-driven ocean currents using observed wind stress and an empirically estimated impulse response function based on drifting buoys. By convolving this function with wind forcing from ERA5, the estimates align well with independent observations across latitudes. Additionally, the response function serves as a valuable indicator of subsurface properties.
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Revised manuscript under review for ESSD
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite altimetry has revolutionized ocean observation, making it possible to track sea level with very good spatio-temporal coverage. However, only sea level anomalies are retrieved; to monitor the entire ocean signal, mean dynamic topography (MDT) must be added to these anomalies. In this study, an evaluation of new NES-CLS22 MDT shows significant improvements in the Arctic. Over the globe, this new solution is better than its predecessor, although the two solutions remain close.
Jean H. M. Roger, Yannice Faugère, Hélène Hébert, Antoine Delepoulle, and Gérald Dibarboure
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Short summary
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Deployed in 2022, SWOT satellite was flying over the southwest Pacific region on 19 May 2023 when it recorded the tsunami triggered by a Mw 7.7 earthquake in the Vanuatu Subduction Zone. For the first time ever it provided a 2D image of a tsunami wavefield on a straight SSW-NNE path. Further compared with tsunami numerical simulation outputs, the modelled wavefield and SWOT record show an overall good phase agreement, but simulated amplitudes and energy spectra are lower than the measurements.
Michel Tchilibou, Simon Barbot, Loren Carrere, Ariane Koch-Larrouy, Gérald Dibarboure, and Clément Ubelmann
Ocean Sci., 21, 1469–1486, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1469-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1469-2025, 2025
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MIOST24 (Multivariate Inversion of Ocean Surface Topography 2024) annual and monthly internal tide (IT) atlases, based on 25 years of altimetry data and an updated wavelength database, are presented for the Indo-Philippine archipelago and the Amazon shelf. The atlases show monthly IT variability and a better correction of IT in altimetry data than with MIOST22 (MIOST 2022) and HRET (High-Resolution Empirical Tide). The results support the development of a global MIOST24.
Pierre-Yves Le Traon, Gérald Dibarboure, Jean-Michel Lellouche, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Mounir Benkiran, Marie Drevillon, Yann Drillet, Yannice Faugère, and Elisabeth Remy
Ocean Sci., 21, 1329–1347, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1329-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1329-2025, 2025
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By providing all weather, global, and real-time observations of sea level, a key variable to constrain ocean analysis and forecasting systems, satellite altimetry has had a profound impact on the development of operational oceanography. This paper provides an overview of the development and evolution of satellite altimetry and operational oceanography over the past 20 years from the launch of Jason-1 in 2001 to the launch of SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) in 2022.
Hélène Etienne, Clément Ubelmann, Fabrice Ardhuin, and Gérald Dibarboure
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2890, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2890, 2025
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This study analyzes near-inertial oscillations (NIOs) in ocean surface currents using drifter data and the LLC2160 ocean-atmosphere model. It finds that NIOs have a typical spatial decorrelation scale around 100 km, varying with latitude. The model accurately captures these patterns, supporting the ODYSEA concept mission's goal to measure surface currents via Doppler radar and reduce NIO-related data aliasing for better ocean monitoring.
Michaël Ablain, Noémie Lalau, Benoit Meyssignac, Robin Fraudeau, Anne Barnoud, Gérald Dibarboure, Alejandro Egido, and Craig Donlon
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This study proposes a novel cross-validation method to assess the instrumental stability in sea level trends. The method involves implementing a second tandem flight phase between two successive altimeter missions a few years after the first phase. The trend in systematic instrumental differences made during the two tandem phases can be estimated below ± 0.1 mm yr-1 (16–84 % confidence level) on a global scale for time intervals between the tandem phases of 4 years or more.
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Sea level observations along the swaths of the new SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission were used to characterize internal tides at three semidiurnal frequencies off the Amazon shelf in the tropical Atlantic during the SWOT calibration/validation period. The atlases were derived using harmonic analysis and principal component analysis. The SWOT-derived internal tide atlas outperforms the reference atlas previously used to correct SWOT observations.
Maxime Ballarotta, Clément Ubelmann, Valentin Bellemin-Laponnaz, Florian Le Guillou, Guillaume Meda, Cécile Anadon, Alice Laloue, Antoine Delepoulle, Yannice Faugère, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Ronan Fablet, and Gérald Dibarboure
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The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission provides unprecedented swath altimetry data. This study examines SWOT's impact on mapping systems, showing a moderate effect with the current nadir altimetry constellation and a stronger impact with a reduced one. Integrating SWOT with dynamic mapping techniques improves the resolution of satellite-derived products, offering promising solutions for studying and monitoring sea-level variability at finer scales.
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Manuscript not accepted for further review
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The SSH analysis and 7 d forecast error will be globally reduced by almost 50 %. Surface current forecast errors should be equivalent to today’s surface current analysis errors or alternatively will be improved (variance error reduction) by 30 % at the surface and 50 % for 300 m depth.
The resolution capabilities will be drastically improved and will be closer to 100 km wavelength as opposed to today where they are above 250 km (on average).
Clément Ubelmann, Loren Carrere, Chloé Durand, Gérald Dibarboure, Yannice Faugère, Maxime Ballarotta, Frédéric Briol, and Florent Lyard
Ocean Sci., 18, 469–481, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-469-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-469-2022, 2022
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Cori Pegliasco, Antoine Delepoulle, Evan Mason, Rosemary Morrow, Yannice Faugère, and Gérald Dibarboure
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 1087–1107, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1087-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1087-2022, 2022
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We investigate how mapping sea level in the Arctic Ocean can benefit from combining data from three satellite radar altimeters: CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3A and SARAL/AltiKa. A dedicated processing for SARAL/AltiKa provides a baseline for the cross-referencing of CryoSat-2 and Sentinel-3A before mapping. We show that by combining measurements coming from three missions, we are able to increase the resolution of gridded sea level fields in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean.
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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Satellite altimetry has revolutionized ocean observation by allowing the sea level to be monitored with very good spatiotemporal coverage. However, only the sea level anomalies are retrieved; to monitor the whole oceanic signal a temporal mean (called mean dynamic topography, MDT) must be added to these anomalies. In this study we present the newly updated CNES-CLS18 MDT. An evaluation of this new solution shows significant improvements in both strong currents and coastal areas.
Cécile Kocha, Marine Liévin, Yann Pageot, Clémence Rubin, Victor Quet, Franck Octau, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Pierre Prandi, Sabine Philipps, Gerald Dibarboure, Isabelino Denis, Carolina Nogueira Loddo, and François Bignalet-Cazalet
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-604, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-604, 2026
Preprint under review for ESSD
Short summary
Short summary
30 years of satellite altimetry data were reprocessed in 2024, using state-of-the-art research algorithms and models. The so-called DT-2024 sea level dataset provides a homogenous and consistent set of observations from 15 satellites and 5 climate reference altimeters. This new dataset is shown to improve mesoscale quality and consistency, particularly over coastal and polar areas, as well as the long-term stability for climate research.
Noémie Lalau, Michaël Ablain, Thomas Vaujour, François Boy, Gerald Dibarboure, and Alejandro Egido
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6364, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6364, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Ocean Science (OS).
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated how to maintain continuous sea level measurements between current Sentinel-3 satellites and the upcoming Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography mission. Because of new satellite designs, a 4-hour delay will exists between observations during the calibration phase. By simulating this lag, we found that, despite increased uncertainty, reliable calibration is possible. Extending this phase to one year ensures a stable, long-term record for climate and ocean monitoring.
Clément Ubelmann, J. Thomas Farrar, Bertrand Chapron, Lucile Gaultier, Laura Gomez-Navarro, Marie-Hélène Rio, and Gérald Dibarboure
Ocean Sci., 21, 2915–2928, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2915-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2915-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study models wind-driven ocean currents using observed wind stress and an empirically estimated impulse response function based on drifting buoys. By convolving this function with wind forcing from ERA5, the estimates align well with independent observations across latitudes. Additionally, the response function serves as a valuable indicator of subsurface properties.
Mathilde Cancet, Florence Birol, Oscar Vergara, Quentin Dagneaux, Fabien Léger, François Bignalet-Cazalet, Jean-Alexis Daguze, Ergane Fouchet, Alexandre Homerin, Claire Maraldi, Fernando Niño, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, and Ngan Tran
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-560, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-560, 2025
Preprint under review for ESSD
Short summary
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Observing sea level variations at high resolution is paramount for coastal scientific, societal and economic issues. ALTICAP (ALTimetry Innovative Coastal Approach Product) is a new product of Sea Level Anomaly derived from Jason-3 20 Hz along track satellite altimetry and benefiting from the most recent corrections. It covers all coastal ocean up to 500 km from land, from February 2016 to July 2021. It also provides collocated altimetric significant wave height and wind speed.
Laura Gómez-Navarro, Maxime Ballarotta, Diego Cortés-Morales, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Laura Fortunato, Baptiste Mourre, and Ananda Pascual
State Planet Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2025-17, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2025-17, 2025
Preprint under review for SP
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding how the ocean moves heat, nutrients, and pollution is vital for climate studies and ecosystem health. We examined eddies in the western Mediterranean Sea using innovative satellite observations from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission. Compared to existing data, we detected major differences in eddy patterns. These advances improve our ability to monitor the ocean, manage marine pollution, and support sustainable maritime activities.
Solène Jousset, Sandrine Mulet, Eric Greiner, John Wilkin, Lien Vidar, Léon Chafik, Roshin Raj, Antonio Bonaduce, Nicolas Picot, and Gérald Dibarboure
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-429, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-429, 2025
Revised manuscript under review for ESSD
Short summary
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Satellite altimetry has revolutionized ocean observation, making it possible to track sea level with very good spatio-temporal coverage. However, only sea level anomalies are retrieved; to monitor the entire ocean signal, mean dynamic topography (MDT) must be added to these anomalies. In this study, an evaluation of new NES-CLS22 MDT shows significant improvements in the Arctic. Over the globe, this new solution is better than its predecessor, although the two solutions remain close.
Jean H. M. Roger, Yannice Faugère, Hélène Hébert, Antoine Delepoulle, and Gérald Dibarboure
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3926, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3926, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Deployed in 2022, SWOT satellite was flying over the southwest Pacific region on 19 May 2023 when it recorded the tsunami triggered by a Mw 7.7 earthquake in the Vanuatu Subduction Zone. For the first time ever it provided a 2D image of a tsunami wavefield on a straight SSW-NNE path. Further compared with tsunami numerical simulation outputs, the modelled wavefield and SWOT record show an overall good phase agreement, but simulated amplitudes and energy spectra are lower than the measurements.
Michel Tchilibou, Simon Barbot, Loren Carrere, Ariane Koch-Larrouy, Gérald Dibarboure, and Clément Ubelmann
Ocean Sci., 21, 1469–1486, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1469-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1469-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
MIOST24 (Multivariate Inversion of Ocean Surface Topography 2024) annual and monthly internal tide (IT) atlases, based on 25 years of altimetry data and an updated wavelength database, are presented for the Indo-Philippine archipelago and the Amazon shelf. The atlases show monthly IT variability and a better correction of IT in altimetry data than with MIOST22 (MIOST 2022) and HRET (High-Resolution Empirical Tide). The results support the development of a global MIOST24.
Pierre-Yves Le Traon, Gérald Dibarboure, Jean-Michel Lellouche, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Mounir Benkiran, Marie Drevillon, Yann Drillet, Yannice Faugère, and Elisabeth Remy
Ocean Sci., 21, 1329–1347, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1329-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1329-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
By providing all weather, global, and real-time observations of sea level, a key variable to constrain ocean analysis and forecasting systems, satellite altimetry has had a profound impact on the development of operational oceanography. This paper provides an overview of the development and evolution of satellite altimetry and operational oceanography over the past 20 years from the launch of Jason-1 in 2001 to the launch of SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) in 2022.
Hélène Etienne, Clément Ubelmann, Fabrice Ardhuin, and Gérald Dibarboure
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2890, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2890, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study analyzes near-inertial oscillations (NIOs) in ocean surface currents using drifter data and the LLC2160 ocean-atmosphere model. It finds that NIOs have a typical spatial decorrelation scale around 100 km, varying with latitude. The model accurately captures these patterns, supporting the ODYSEA concept mission's goal to measure surface currents via Doppler radar and reduce NIO-related data aliasing for better ocean monitoring.
Michaël Ablain, Noémie Lalau, Benoit Meyssignac, Robin Fraudeau, Anne Barnoud, Gérald Dibarboure, Alejandro Egido, and Craig Donlon
Ocean Sci., 21, 343–358, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-343-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-343-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study proposes a novel cross-validation method to assess the instrumental stability in sea level trends. The method involves implementing a second tandem flight phase between two successive altimeter missions a few years after the first phase. The trend in systematic instrumental differences made during the two tandem phases can be estimated below ± 0.1 mm yr-1 (16–84 % confidence level) on a global scale for time intervals between the tandem phases of 4 years or more.
Michel Tchilibou, Loren Carrere, Florent Lyard, Clément Ubelmann, Gérald Dibarboure, Edward D. Zaron, and Brian K. Arbic
Ocean Sci., 21, 325–342, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-325-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-325-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Sea level observations along the swaths of the new SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission were used to characterize internal tides at three semidiurnal frequencies off the Amazon shelf in the tropical Atlantic during the SWOT calibration/validation period. The atlases were derived using harmonic analysis and principal component analysis. The SWOT-derived internal tide atlas outperforms the reference atlas previously used to correct SWOT observations.
Florence Birol, François Bignalet-Cazalet, Mathilde Cancet, Jean-Alexis Daguze, Wassim Fkaier, Ergane Fouchet, Fabien Léger, Claire Maraldi, Fernando Niño, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, and Ngan Tran
Ocean Sci., 21, 133–150, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-133-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-133-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We take advantage of the availability of several algorithms for most of the terms/corrections used to calculate altimetry sea level data to quantify and analyze the sources of uncertainty associated with the approach to the coast. The results highlight their hierarchy. Tidal corrections and mean sea surface height contribute to coastal sea level data uncertainties. Improving the retracking algorithm is today the main factor to bring accurate altimetry sea level data closer to the shore.
Maxime Ballarotta, Clément Ubelmann, Valentin Bellemin-Laponnaz, Florian Le Guillou, Guillaume Meda, Cécile Anadon, Alice Laloue, Antoine Delepoulle, Yannice Faugère, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Ronan Fablet, and Gérald Dibarboure
Ocean Sci., 21, 63–80, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-63-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-63-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission provides unprecedented swath altimetry data. This study examines SWOT's impact on mapping systems, showing a moderate effect with the current nadir altimetry constellation and a stronger impact with a reduced one. Integrating SWOT with dynamic mapping techniques improves the resolution of satellite-derived products, offering promising solutions for studying and monitoring sea-level variability at finer scales.
Antonio Sánchez-Román, Flora Gues, Romain Bourdalle-Badie, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Ananda Pascual, and Marie Drévillon
State Planet, 4-osr8, 4, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-4-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-4-2024, 2024
Short summary
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This study investigates the changing pattern of the Gulf Stream over the last 3 decades as observed in the altimetric record (1993–2022). Changes in the Gulf Stream path have an effect on its speed (and associated energy) and also on waters transported towards the subpolar North Atlantic, impacting Europe's climate. The observed shifts in the paths seem to be linked to variability in the North Atlantic Ocean during winter that may play an important role.
Alice Laloue, Malek Ghantous, Yannice Faugère, Alice Dalphinet, and Lotfi Aouf
State Planet, 4-osr8, 6, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-6-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-6-2024, 2024
Short summary
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Satellite altimetry shows that daily mean significant wave heights (SWHs) and extreme SWHs have increased in the Southern Ocean, the South Atlantic, and the southern Indian Ocean over the last 2 decades. In winter in the North Atlantic, SWH has increased north of 45°N and decreased south of 45°N. SWHs likely to be exceeded every 100 years have also increased in the North Atlantic and the eastern tropical Pacific. However, this study also revealed the need for longer and more consistent series.
Karina von Schuckmann, Lorena Moreira, Mathilde Cancet, Flora Gues, Emmanuelle Autret, Jonathan Baker, Clément Bricaud, Romain Bourdalle-Badie, Lluis Castrillo, Lijing Cheng, Frederic Chevallier, Daniele Ciani, Alvaro de Pascual-Collar, Vincenzo De Toma, Marie Drevillon, Claudia Fanelli, Gilles Garric, Marion Gehlen, Rianne Giesen, Kevin Hodges, Doroteaciro Iovino, Simon Jandt-Scheelke, Eric Jansen, Melanie Juza, Ioanna Karagali, Thomas Lavergne, Simona Masina, Ronan McAdam, Audrey Minière, Helen Morrison, Tabea Rebekka Panteleit, Andrea Pisano, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Ad Stoffelen, Sulian Thual, Simon Van Gennip, Pierre Veillard, Chunxue Yang, and Hao Zuo
State Planet, 4-osr8, 1, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-1-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-1-2024, 2024
Karina von Schuckmann, Lorena Moreira, Mathilde Cancet, Flora Gues, Emmanuelle Autret, Ali Aydogdu, Lluis Castrillo, Daniele Ciani, Andrea Cipollone, Emanuela Clementi, Gianpiero Cossarini, Alvaro de Pascual-Collar, Vincenzo De Toma, Marion Gehlen, Rianne Giesen, Marie Drevillon, Claudia Fanelli, Kevin Hodges, Simon Jandt-Scheelke, Eric Jansen, Melanie Juza, Ioanna Karagali, Priidik Lagemaa, Vidar Lien, Leonardo Lima, Vladyslav Lyubartsev, Ilja Maljutenko, Simona Masina, Ronan McAdam, Pietro Miraglio, Helen Morrison, Tabea Rebekka Panteleit, Andrea Pisano, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Urmas Raudsepp, Roshin Raj, Ad Stoffelen, Simon Van Gennip, Pierre Veillard, and Chunxue Yang
State Planet, 4-osr8, 2, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-2-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-2-2024, 2024
Florian Le Guillou, Lucile Gaultier, Maxime Ballarotta, Sammy Metref, Clément Ubelmann, Emmanuel Cosme, and Marie-Helène Rio
Ocean Sci., 19, 1517–1527, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1517-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1517-2023, 2023
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Altimetry provides sea surface height (SSH) data along one-dimensional tracks. For many applications, the tracks are interpolated in space and time to provide gridded SSH maps. The operational SSH gridded products filter out the small-scale signals measured on the tracks. This paper evaluates the performances of a recently implemented dynamical method to retrieve the small-scale signals from real SSH data. We show a net improvement in the quality of SSH maps when compared to independent data.
Elisa Carli, Rosemary Morrow, Oscar Vergara, Robin Chevrier, and Lionel Renault
Ocean Sci., 19, 1413–1435, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1413-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1413-2023, 2023
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Oceanic eddies are the structures carrying most of the energy in our oceans. They are key to climate regulation and nutrient transport. We prepare for the Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission, studying eddy dynamics in the region south of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet, using models and simulated satellite data. SWOT will provide insights into the structures smaller than what is currently observable, which appear to greatly contribute to eddy kinetic energy and strain.
Antonio Sánchez-Román, M. Isabelle Pujol, Yannice Faugère, and Ananda Pascual
Ocean Sci., 19, 793–809, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-793-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-793-2023, 2023
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This paper assesses the performance of the latest version (DT2021) of global gridded altimetry products distributed through the CMEMS and C3S Copernicus programs on the retrieval of sea level in the coastal zone of the European seas with respect to the previous DT2018 version. This comparison is made using an external independent dataset. DT2021 sea level products better solve the signal in the coastal band.
Adrien Guérou, Benoit Meyssignac, Pierre Prandi, Michaël Ablain, Aurélien Ribes, and François Bignalet-Cazalet
Ocean Sci., 19, 431–451, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-431-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-431-2023, 2023
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Based on the latest satellite observations published by the French space agency CNES, we present the current state of the sea level at the scale of the planet and assess its rise and acceleration over the past 29 years. To support scientific research we provide updated estimations of our confidence in our estimations and highlight key technological and scientific fields. Making progress on that will help to better characterize the sea level in the future.
Oscar Vergara, Rosemary Morrow, Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Gérald Dibarboure, and Clément Ubelmann
Ocean Sci., 19, 363–379, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-363-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-363-2023, 2023
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Recent advances allow us to observe the ocean from space with increasingly higher detail, challenging our knowledge of the ocean's surface height signature. We use a statistical approach to determine the spatial scale at which the sea surface height signal is no longer dominated by geostrophic turbulence but in turn becomes dominated by wave-type motions. This information helps us to better use the data provided by ocean-observing satellites and to gain knowledge on climate-driving processes.
Maxime Ballarotta, Clément Ubelmann, Pierre Veillard, Pierre Prandi, Hélène Etienne, Sandrine Mulet, Yannice Faugère, Gérald Dibarboure, Rosemary Morrow, and Nicolas Picot
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 295–315, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-295-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-295-2023, 2023
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We present a new gridded sea surface height and current dataset produced by combining observations from nadir altimeters and drifting buoys. This product is based on a multiscale and multivariate mapping approach that offers the possibility to improve the physical content of gridded products by combining the data from various platforms and resolving a broader spectrum of ocean surface dynamic than in the current operational mapping system. A quality assessment of this new product is presented.
Michel Tchilibou, Ariane Koch-Larrouy, Simon Barbot, Florent Lyard, Yves Morel, Julien Jouanno, and Rosemary Morrow
Ocean Sci., 18, 1591–1618, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1591-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1591-2022, 2022
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This high-resolution model-based study investigates the variability in the generation, propagation, and sea height signature (SSH) of the internal tide off the Amazon shelf during two contrasted seasons. ITs propagate further north during the season characterized by weak currents and mesoscale eddies and a shallow and strong pycnocline. IT imprints on SSH dominate those of the geostrophic motion for horizontal scales below 200 km; moreover, the SSH is mainly incoherent below 70 km.
Marie-Isabelle Pujol, Stéphanie Dupuy, Oscar Vergara, Antonio Sánchez-Román, Yannice Faugère, Pierre Prandi, Mei-Ling Dabat, Quentin Dagneaux, Marine Lievin, Emeline Cadier, Gérald Dibarboure, and Nicolas Picot
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-292, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-292, 2022
Manuscript not accepted for further review
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An altimeter sea level along-track level-3 product with a 5 Hz (~1.2 km) sampling is proposed. It takes advantage of recent advances in radar altimeter processing, and improvements made to different stages of the processing chain. Compared to the conventional 1 Hz (~7 km) product, it significantly improves the observability of the short wavelength signal in open ocean and near coast areas (> 5 km). It also contributes to improving high resolution numerical model outputs via data assimilation.
Mounir Benkiran, Pierre-Yves Le Traon, and Gérald Dibarboure
Ocean Sci., 18, 609–625, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-609-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-609-2022, 2022
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The SSH analysis and 7 d forecast error will be globally reduced by almost 50 %. Surface current forecast errors should be equivalent to today’s surface current analysis errors or alternatively will be improved (variance error reduction) by 30 % at the surface and 50 % for 300 m depth.
The resolution capabilities will be drastically improved and will be closer to 100 km wavelength as opposed to today where they are above 250 km (on average).
Clément Ubelmann, Loren Carrere, Chloé Durand, Gérald Dibarboure, Yannice Faugère, Maxime Ballarotta, Frédéric Briol, and Florent Lyard
Ocean Sci., 18, 469–481, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-469-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-469-2022, 2022
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The signature of internal tides has become an important component for high-resolution altimetry over oceans. Several studies have proposed some solutions to resolve part of these internal tides based on the altimetry record. Following these studies, we propose here a new inversion approach aimed to mitigate aliasing with other dynamics. After a description of the methodology, the solution for the main tidal components has been successfully validated against independent observations.
Cori Pegliasco, Antoine Delepoulle, Evan Mason, Rosemary Morrow, Yannice Faugère, and Gérald Dibarboure
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 1087–1107, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1087-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1087-2022, 2022
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The new global Mesoscale Eddy Trajectory Atlases (META3.1exp) provide eddy identification and trajectories from altimetry maps. These atlases comprise an improvement to and continuation of the historical META2.0 product. Changes in the detection parameters and tracking were tested by comparing the eddies from the different datasets. In particular, the eddy contours available in META3.1exp are an asset for multi-disciplinary studies.
Pierre Prandi, Jean-Christophe Poisson, Yannice Faugère, Amandine Guillot, and Gérald Dibarboure
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 5469–5482, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-5469-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-5469-2021, 2021
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We investigate how mapping sea level in the Arctic Ocean can benefit from combining data from three satellite radar altimeters: CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3A and SARAL/AltiKa. A dedicated processing for SARAL/AltiKa provides a baseline for the cross-referencing of CryoSat-2 and Sentinel-3A before mapping. We show that by combining measurements coming from three missions, we are able to increase the resolution of gridded sea level fields in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean.
Jean-Michel Zigna, Reda Semlal, Flavien Gouillon, Ethan Davis, Elisabeth Lambert, Frédéric Briol, Romain Prod-Homme, Sean Arms, and Lionel Zawadzki
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2021-138, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2021-138, 2021
Preprint withdrawn
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The Parquet Cube storage alternative presented here is compared with Pangeo and THREDDS platforms to access to gridded data for large scale processing and modeling. Stressing the 3 implementations through 3 data scientists' scenarii, this Parquet Cube Alternative appears to be a good candidate to share gridded data in a cloud environment and share them through different communities of users. This open source alternative can be enriched by additional services to subset, enrich or explore data.
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
Ocean Sci., 17, 789–808, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-789-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-789-2021, 2021
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Satellite altimetry has revolutionized ocean observation by allowing the sea level to be monitored with very good spatiotemporal coverage. However, only the sea level anomalies are retrieved; to monitor the whole oceanic signal a temporal mean (called mean dynamic topography, MDT) must be added to these anomalies. In this study we present the newly updated CNES-CLS18 MDT. An evaluation of this new solution shows significant improvements in both strong currents and coastal areas.
Florent H. Lyard, Damien J. Allain, Mathilde Cancet, Loren Carrère, and Nicolas Picot
Ocean Sci., 17, 615–649, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-615-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-615-2021, 2021
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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.
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Co-editor-in-chief
This paper thoroughly describes the data processing steps and assessment of the usefulness of the new SWOT mission for advancing ocean science. The paper will be of great interest the ocean and sea ice communities and others. The discussion of the benefits, relevance, and limitations of Level-3 swath-altimeter products for various research domains is particularly important.
This paper thoroughly describes the data processing steps and assessment of the usefulness of...
Short summary
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission delivers unprecedented swath-altimetry products. In this paper, we describe how we extended the Level-3 algorithms to handle SWOT’s unique swath-altimeter data. We also illustrate and discuss the benefits, relevance, and limitations of Level-3 swath-altimeter products for various research domains.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission delivers unprecedented swath-altimetry...
