Exploiting satellite altimetry in coastal ocean through the ALTICORE project

Abstract

International audienceAltimeter-derived information on sea level and sea state could be extremely important for resolving the complex dynamics of the coastal ocean. Satellite altimetry was not originally conceived with coastal ocean in mind, but future missions (AltiKa and CryoSat-2) promise much improved nearshore capabilities. A current priority is to analyze the existing, under-exploited, 15-year global archive of coastal altimeter data to draw recommendations for these missions. There are intrinsic difficulties in processing and interpretation of the data, e.g.: the proximity of land, control by the seabed, and rapid variations due to tides and atmospheric effects. But there are also unexploited possibilities, including higher along track data rates and multi-altimetry scenarios that need to be explored. There are also difficulties of accessing and manipulating data from multiple sources, many of which undergo regular revision and enhancement. In response to these needs, the ALTICORE (ALTImetry for COastal REgions - www.alticore.eu) project started in December 2006, funded for two-years by the European INTAS scheme (www.intas.be). The overall aim of ALTICORE is to build up capacity for provision of altimeter-based information in support of coastal ocean studies in some European Seas (Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, White and Barents). ALTICORE will also contribute to improved cooperation between Europe and Eastern countries and enhance networking of capacity in the area of satellite altimetry. This paper discusses the approach, summarizes the planned work and shows how the coastal community should eventually benefit from better access to improved altimeter-derived information

Altimetry Combined with Hydrography for Ocean Transport Estimation

“…Our results highlight the difficulty of the actual altimetry sampling to represent the total EGIC variability along the coast. This issue of coastal altimetry is actually under investigation (Lebedev et al 2007;Desportes et al 2007), and early products have been provided by AVISO in the frame of the Prototype Innovant de Système de Traitement pour l'Altimétrie Cô tière (PISTACH) project, which could improve the results (these products were not available when this work was done). The determination of absolute transports over western boundary regions where the circulation is usually strongly barotropic is not possible with hydrography alone.…”