[1] Relative dynamic heights and geostrophic fields were derived from TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry data and then used to track mesoscale eddies over the Subtropical Countercurrent (STCC). The radii, centers, vorticities, shearing deformation rates, stretching deformation rates, divergences, and center velocities of all identified eddies over the STCC were determined using a model that assumes constant velocity gradients. Most eddies are concentrated in a zonal band near 22°N, and there is an interannual variation in the number of eddies. A case study was made for a cyclonic eddy and an anticyclonic eddy, with time series of eddy kinematic parameters computed. Both eddies survive for $220 days and propagate westward along over 22°N-24°N to reach the Kuroshio Current east coast of Taiwan, where the eddies were dissipated and in turn affected the Kuroshio Current in many ways. Sea surface temperature data and drifter data confirm the existence of these two eddies. The radii of both eddies vary and their shapes are mostly elliptical during propagation. The anticyclonic eddy propagated almost westward with oscillating north-south components, and the mean speed is 8.3 km/day. The cyclonic eddy moved southwestward before reaching 130°E and then moved northwestward, with a mean speed of 7.6 km/day. The propagations of these two eddies are basically consistent with the standard theory of eddy propagation but with larger speeds. The propagating direction could be altered while passing steep bottom topography or merging with the other eddies.

Lake levels in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) provide valuable records for climate change studies. We use two decades of measurements (January 1993-December 2014) from the TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P)-family satellite altimeters (T/P, Jason-1 and -2) to detect lake level variations at 23 lakes along their repeat ground tracks every 10 days. We employ an optimal processing technique to obtain quality measurements, including outlier detection, averaging and filtering. The lake level accuracies are improved by subwaveform retracking. Jason-1 delivers few measurements after waveform retracking and a cluster classification at most lakes. From January 1993 to December 2014, most lake levels in eastern Tibet rose, while those in western Tibet declined. In Qinghai, lake levels dropped before 2005 and then rose afterwards, coinciding with the measure in 2005 that protects the Qinghai ecosystem (e.g., grassland conservation). The overall pattern of lake level change in the QTP is largely affected by monsoons and lake locations. Most lake levels show clear annual and inter-annual oscillations. Certain lakes show alternating level highs and lows in the same seasons and varying amplitudes of annual oscillations due to lake level changes. We detect a sudden rise of lake level by 7 m caused by floods, varying lake level trends associated with the 1997-98 El Niño and other factors, and persistently rising and declining lake levels associated with the long-term precipitation trends in the QTP. The T/P-family satellites will continue to monitor lake levels here as long as the sea level monitoring program lasts, collecting a long-term climate record at highlands echoing sea level change.

Contemporary applications of radar altimetry include sea-level rise, ocean circulation, marine gravity, and icesheet elevation change. Unlike InSAR and GNSS, which are widely used to map surface deformation, altimetry is neither reliant on highly temporally-correlated ground features nor as limited by the available spatial coverage, and can provide long-term temporal subsidence monitoring capability. Here we use multi-mission radar altimetry with an approximately 23 year data-span to quantify land subsidence in cropland areas. Subsidence rates from TOPEX/POSEIDON, JASON-1, ENVISAT, and JASON-2 during 1992–2015 show time-varying trends with respect to displacement over time in California’s San Joaquin Valley and central Taiwan, possibly related to changes in land use, climatic conditions (drought) and regulatory measures affecting groundwater use. Near Hanford, California, subsidence rates reach 18 cm yr−1 with a cumulative subsidence of 206 cm, which potentially could adversely affect operations of the planned California High-Speed Rail. The maximum subsidence rate in central Taiwan is 8 cm yr−1. Radar altimetry also reveals time-varying subsidence in the North China Plain consistent with the declines of groundwater storage and existing water infrastructure detected by the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, with rates reaching 20 cm yr−1 and cumulative subsidence as much as 155 cm.