Mean Dynamic Ocean Topography in the Southern Ocean from GRACE and GOCE and Multi-mission Altimeter Data

2013 ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberta Albertella ◽  
Roman Savcenko ◽  
Tijana Janjić ◽  
Reiner Rummel ◽  
Wolfgang Bosch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Ocean Topography

scholarly journals Impact of combining GRACE and GOCE gravity data on ocean circulation estimates

Ocean Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Janjić ◽  
J. Schröter ◽  
R. Savcenko ◽  
W. Bosch ◽  
A. Albertella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Sea Surface Height ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Weddell Sea ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Surface Drifters ◽  
Ocean Topography

Abstract. With the focus on the Southern Ocean circulation, results of assimilation of multi-mission-altimeter data and the GRACE/GOCE gravity data into the finite element ocean model (FEOM) are investigated. We use the geodetic method to obtain the dynamical ocean topography (DOT). This method combines the multi-mission-altimeter sea surface height and the GRACE/GOCE gravity field. Using the profile approach, the spectral consistency of both fields is achieved by filtering the sea surface height and the geoid. By combining the GRACE and GOCE data, a considerably shorter filter length can be used, which results in more DOT details. We show that this increase in resolution of measured DOT carries onto the results of data assimilation for the surface data. By assimilating only absolute dynamical topography data using the ensemble Kalman filter, we were able to improve modeled fields. Results are closer to observations which were not used for assimilation and lie outside the area covered by altimetry in the Southern Ocean (e.g. temperature of surface drifters or deep temperatures in the Weddell Sea area at 800 m depth derived from Argo composite.)

The Influence of Ocean Topography on the Upwelling of Carbon in the Southern Ocean

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riley X. Brady ◽  
Mathew E. Maltrud ◽  
Phillip J. Wolfram ◽  
Henri F. Drake ◽  
Nicole S. Lovenduski
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Ocean Topography

scholarly journals About the consistency between Envisat and CryoSat-2 radar freeboard retrieval over Antarctic sea ice

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 4893-4923 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Schwegmann ◽  
E. Rinne ◽  
R. Ricker ◽  
S. Hendricks ◽  
V. Helm
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Ice Thickness ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Growth Season ◽  
Sea Ice Thickness ◽  
Antarctic Sea Ice ◽  
Abstract Knowledge ◽  
Modal Values

Abstract. Knowledge about Antarctic sea-ice volume and its changes over the past decades has been sparse due to the lack of systematic sea-ice thickness measurements in this remote area. Recently, first attempts have been made to develop a sea-ice thickness product over the Southern Ocean from space-borne radar altimetry and results look promising. Today, more than 20 years of radar altimeter data are potentially available for such products. However, data come from different sources, and the characteristics of individual sensors differ. Hence, it is important to study the consistency between single sensors in order to develop long and consistent time series over the potentially available measurement period. Here, the consistency between freeboard measurements of the Radar Altimeter 2 on-board Envisat and freeboard measurements from the Synthetic-Aperture Interferometric Radar Altimeter on-board CryoSat-2 is tested for their overlap period in 2011. Results indicate that mean and modal values are comparable over the sea-ice growth season (May–October) and partly also beyond. In general, Envisat data shows higher freeboards in the seasonal ice zone while CryoSat-2 freeboards are higher in the perennial ice zone and near the coasts. This has consequences for the agreement in individual sectors of the Southern Ocean, where one or the other ice class may dominate. Nevertheless, over the growth season, mean freeboard for the entire (regional separated) Southern Ocean differs generally by not more than 2 cm (5 cm, except for the Amundsen/Bellingshausen Sea) between Envisat and CryoSat-2, and the differences between modal freeboard lie generally within ±10 cm and often even below.

scholarly journals Melting and fragmentation laws from the evolution of two large southern ocean icebergs

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Bouhier ◽  
Jean Tournadre ◽  
Frédérique Rémy ◽  
Rozenn Gourves-Cousin
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Freshwater Flux ◽  
Realistic Representation ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Visible Images ◽  
Bulk Model ◽  
Brittle Fragmentation

Abstract. The evolution of the thickness and area of two large southern ocean icebergs, having drifted in open water for more than a year, is estimated through the combined analysis of altimeter data and visible satellite images. Most of the iceberg modelling studies uses two main melting formulations that are compared with the observed thickness evolution of our two icebergs, to test their validity in case of large icebergs. The first formulation, based on a fluid dynamics approach, would tend to underestimate basal melt rates, so that using the second one (using a thermodynamic budget consideration) may be more relevant. Fragmentation is, before melting, the major decay process of large icebergs, yet it is a complex and still poorly documented mechanism. A correlation analysis between the observed volume loss of our two icebergs and environmental parameters highlights those most likely to promote fragmentation. Consequently, a bulk model of fragmentation depending on ocean temperature and iceberg velocity is established and is shown to be able to reproduce well the observed volume variations. Finally, the size distribution of the calved pieces is estimated using both altimeter data and visible images and is found to be consistent with previous studies as typical of brittle fragmentation processes. These results are valuable to account for a more realistic representation of the freshwater flux constrained by large icebergs in models.

scholarly journals About the consistency between Envisat and CryoSat-2 radar freeboard retrieval over Antarctic sea ice

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1415-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Schwegmann ◽  
Eero Rinne ◽  
Robert Ricker ◽  
Stefan Hendricks ◽  
Veit Helm
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Ice Thickness ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Growth Season ◽  
Sea Ice Thickness ◽  
Antarctic Sea Ice ◽  
Abstract Knowledge ◽  
Modal Values

Abstract. Knowledge about Antarctic sea-ice volume and its changes over the past decades has been sparse due to the lack of systematic sea-ice thickness measurements in this remote area. Recently, first attempts have been made to develop a sea-ice thickness product over the Southern Ocean from space-borne radar altimetry and results look promising. Today, more than 20 years of radar altimeter data are potentially available for such products. However, the characteristics of individual radar types differ for the available altimeter missions. Hence, it is important and our goal to study the consistency between single sensors in order to develop long and consistent time series. Here, the consistency between freeboard measurements of the Radar Altimeter 2 on board Envisat and freeboard measurements from the Synthetic-Aperture Interferometric Radar Altimeter on board CryoSat-2 is tested for their overlap period in 2011. Results indicate that mean and modal values are in reasonable agreement over the sea-ice growth season (May–October) and partly also beyond. In general, Envisat data show higher freeboards in the first-year ice zone while CryoSat-2 freeboards are higher in the multiyear ice zone and near the coasts. This has consequences for the agreement in individual sectors of the Southern Ocean, where one or the other ice class may dominate. Nevertheless, over the growth season, mean freeboard for the entire (regionally separated) Southern Ocean differs generally by not more than 3 cm (8 cm, with few exceptions) between Envisat and CryoSat-2, and the differences between modal freeboards lie generally within ±10 cm and often even below.

scholarly journals Analysis of Wave Height Variability Using Altimeter Measurements: Application to the Mediterranean Sea

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 2078-2092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Queffeulou ◽  
Abderrahim Bentamy
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Wave Height ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Standard Deviations ◽  
Wave Models ◽  
Ocean Topography

Abstract Altimeter significant wave height (SWH) measurement data from six satellite missions covering 14 yr were analyzed over the Mediterranean Sea. First, data correction and screening were performed using the same method for the six altimeters [European Remote Sensing Satellites (ERS-1 and ERS-2), Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX), Geosat Follow-On, Jason, and Environmental Satellite (Envisat)]. The data from the TOPEX and Jason missions enabled the construction of seasonal maps of along-track SWH mean values and standard deviations. These reveal the regional short-scale sea state features associated with the specific meteorological patterns of the various geographical basins. Time series of monthly SWH mean values and standard deviations from each satellite and over the whole Mediterranean Sea were calculated and seen to be in good agreement, thus demonstrating interannual variability. The six altimeter missions used together enable the investigation of the monthly annual cycle at the short scales of the various subbasins. Significant differences are observed between the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea. The annual SWH cycle changes in both shape and amplitude depending on the subbasin. Analysis of the seasonal interannual variability confirms the existence of some degree of independence between the subbasins. Thanks to multisatellite missions and homogeneous corrections of the altimeter data, SWH time and space characteristics were able to be obtained at regional short scales. These results are independent of numerical wind and wave models. This method can be applied to any geographical region.

scholarly journals High resolution dynamic ocean topography in the Southern Ocean from GOCE

2012 ◽  
Vol 190 (2) ◽  
pp. 922-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Albertella ◽  
R. Savcenko ◽  
T. Janjić ◽  
R. Rummel ◽  
W. Bosch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Ocean Topography

scholarly journals The Wave Climate of the Southern Ocean

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 1417-1433
Author(s):  
Ian R. Young ◽  
Emmanuel Fontaine ◽  
Qingxiang Liu ◽  
Alexander V. Babanin
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Southern Ocean ◽  
Wave Height ◽  
Significant Wave Height ◽  
Wave Model ◽  
Wave Climate ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Local Wind ◽  
Significant Wave ◽  
Individual Wave

AbstractThe wave climate of the Southern Ocean is investigated using a combined dataset from 33 years of altimeter data, in situ buoy measurements at five locations, and numerical wave model hindcasts. The analysis defines the seasonal variation in wind speed and significant wave height, as well as wind speed and significant wave height for a 1-in-100-year return period. The buoy data include an individual wave with a trough to crest height of 26.4 m and suggest that waves in excess of 30 m would occur in the region. The extremely long fetches, persistent westerly winds, and procession of low pressure systems that traverse the region generate wave spectra that are unique. These spectra are unimodal but with peak frequencies that propagate much faster than the local wind. This situation results in a unique energy balance in which waves at the spectra peak grow as a result of nonlinear transfer without any input from the local wind.

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