Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations
The accuracy of a new mean sea surface topography (MSST) of the northwest Atlantic is assessed. The MSST is estimated from 12 years of altimeter observations referenced with respect to a new regional geoid based on a blend of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), terrestrial, and altimete...
Published in: | Journal of Geophysical Research |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | unknown |
Published: |
American Geophysical Union
2013
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004859 http://hdl.handle.net/10222/27536 |
id |
ftdalhouse:oai:DalSpace.library.dal.ca:10222/27536 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdalhouse:oai:DalSpace.library.dal.ca:10222/27536 2023-05-15T17:33:54+02:00 Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations Thompson, K. R. Huang, J. Veronneau, M. Wright, D. G. Lu, Y. 2013-06-19T18:06:27Z https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004859 http://hdl.handle.net/10222/27536 unknown American Geophysical Union Journal of Geophysical Research - Part C - Oceans Thompson, K. R., J. Huang, M. Veronneau, D. G. Wright, et al. 2009. "Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations." Journal of Geophysical Research - Part C - Oceans 114: 0701511. DOI:10.1029/2008JC004859 0148-0227 http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004859 http://hdl.handle.net/10222/27536 114 0701511 This paper was published by AGU. Copyright 2009 American Geophysical Union Gravity Height measurement Oceanographic regions Oceanographic techniques Sea level Topography (Earth) article 2013 ftdalhouse https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004859 2021-12-29T18:08:45Z The accuracy of a new mean sea surface topography (MSST) of the northwest Atlantic is assessed. The MSST is estimated from 12 years of altimeter observations referenced with respect to a new regional geoid based on a blend of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), terrestrial, and altimeter-derived gravity data. The new MSST is first compared to a recently published mean surface topography calculated using an eddy-permitting model of the North Atlantic. Geostropic currents calculated from the GRACE-based MSST are next compared to mean surface currents in the northwest Atlantic estimated from the motion of near-surface drifters corrected for surface Ekman effects. Finally, the mean path of the Gulf Stream is compared to the line of zero skewness of sea level variability which provides a measure of the mean path of unstable, intense ocean currents. Overall the agreement amongst the various estimates of surface topography and circulation is excellent. There are, however, some significant differences that can be separately attributed to problems with the MSST and, in some cases, with the ocean model (in particular the ocean climatology to which it was nudged). Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Northwest Atlantic Dalhousie University: DalSpace Institutional Repository Journal of Geophysical Research 114 C7 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Dalhousie University: DalSpace Institutional Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftdalhouse |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Gravity Height measurement Oceanographic regions Oceanographic techniques Sea level Topography (Earth) |
spellingShingle |
Gravity Height measurement Oceanographic regions Oceanographic techniques Sea level Topography (Earth) Thompson, K. R. Huang, J. Veronneau, M. Wright, D. G. Lu, Y. Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations |
topic_facet |
Gravity Height measurement Oceanographic regions Oceanographic techniques Sea level Topography (Earth) |
description |
The accuracy of a new mean sea surface topography (MSST) of the northwest Atlantic is assessed. The MSST is estimated from 12 years of altimeter observations referenced with respect to a new regional geoid based on a blend of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), terrestrial, and altimeter-derived gravity data. The new MSST is first compared to a recently published mean surface topography calculated using an eddy-permitting model of the North Atlantic. Geostropic currents calculated from the GRACE-based MSST are next compared to mean surface currents in the northwest Atlantic estimated from the motion of near-surface drifters corrected for surface Ekman effects. Finally, the mean path of the Gulf Stream is compared to the line of zero skewness of sea level variability which provides a measure of the mean path of unstable, intense ocean currents. Overall the agreement amongst the various estimates of surface topography and circulation is excellent. There are, however, some significant differences that can be separately attributed to problems with the MSST and, in some cases, with the ocean model (in particular the ocean climatology to which it was nudged). |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Thompson, K. R. Huang, J. Veronneau, M. Wright, D. G. Lu, Y. |
author_facet |
Thompson, K. R. Huang, J. Veronneau, M. Wright, D. G. Lu, Y. |
author_sort |
Thompson, K. R. |
title |
Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations |
title_short |
Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations |
title_full |
Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations |
title_fullStr |
Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations |
title_sort |
mean surface topography of the northwest atlantic: comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations |
publisher |
American Geophysical Union |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004859 http://hdl.handle.net/10222/27536 |
genre |
North Atlantic Northwest Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic Northwest Atlantic |
op_relation |
Journal of Geophysical Research - Part C - Oceans Thompson, K. R., J. Huang, M. Veronneau, D. G. Wright, et al. 2009. "Mean surface topography of the northwest Atlantic: Comparison of estimates based on satellite, terrestrial gravity, and oceanographic observations." Journal of Geophysical Research - Part C - Oceans 114: 0701511. DOI:10.1029/2008JC004859 0148-0227 http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004859 http://hdl.handle.net/10222/27536 114 0701511 |
op_rights |
This paper was published by AGU. Copyright 2009 American Geophysical Union |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JC004859 |
container_title |
Journal of Geophysical Research |
container_volume |
114 |
container_issue |
C7 |
_version_ |
1766132552077148160 |