Mapping high-resolution surface current by incorporating geostrophic equilibrium with surface quasigeostrophic theory using multi-source satellite observations

• Published in: Remote Sensing of Environment
• Main Authors: Chen, Zhiqiang, Wang, Xidong, Cao, Haijin, Song, Xiangzhou
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2024
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/60062/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/60062/1/1-s2.0-S0034425724000695-main.pdf; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425724000695?via%3Dihub; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2024.114058

In the past three decades, altimeter-based remote sensing has been a widely used system to estimate ocean surface currents. However, it remains a great challenge to effectively resolve scales below ∼100 km at high latitudes and ∼ 300 km at mid-latitudes. In this study, we propose a scheme that utilizes geostrophic equilibrium and surface quasigeostrophy theory (SQG) to improve surface current resolution by incorporating remote sensing sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH), and sea surface salinity (SSS) observations. The scheme separately characterizes the larger-scale flows and smaller-scale motions of surface currents. A case study encompassing the Agulhas surface current demonstrates that the smaller-scale motions associated with temperature fronts are well captured by introducing high spatial-temporal resolution SST data. Furthermore, the reconstructed surface current is systemically evaluated by using surface drogued drifters and a Lagrangian synthetic particle tracking tool throughout the South Indian Ocean (SIO) for 2011–2015. Notably, the reconstructed zonal velocity component is closer to the drifter observations than the meridional counterpart and corresponding velocity phase. Regionally, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) showcases superior reconstruction performance, with higher skill scores and lower Lagrangian separation distances. However, a relatively large uncertainty is observed around the Agulhas Retroflection (AR) and Greater Agulhas System (GAS), which are linked to complicated regional dynamic regimes. We finally conduct four simulation experiments to explore the effect of different SST products on surface current reconstruction within the subdomain AR. The results indicate the varying potentials of the four evaluated SST products for informing surface current applications. Specifically, the MWIRSST enhances the likelihood of particles reaching the target field, while DMI OI shortens the average deviation distance of the arrived particles.