Fine Resolution Altimetry Data for a Regional Application in the Bay of Biscay

Dussurget, Renaud; Birol, Florence; Morrow, Rosemary; Mey, P. De

doi:10.1080/01490419.2011.584835

Cited by 48 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 55 publications

(67 reference statements)

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“…The primary limitations are represented by the low resolution of standard gridded products (Dussurget et al 2011) in addition to the inaccuracies of along-track altimeter-derived coastal velocity fields (Anzenhofer et al 1999). Furthermore, at the shorter scales, the ageostrophic components of the circulation become more important, and altimetry, as stated above, fails to capture these components.…”

Section: Discussion and Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, alternative methods for generating high-resolution altimeter maps must be developed and tested. Dussurget et al (2011) successfully applied a novel technique in the Gulf of Biscay that can be splitted in two steps. In the first step, the large-scale mesoscale signals (approximately 100 km) were removed by subtracting the standard gridded SLA maps (updated delayed time AVISO product; Larnicol 2005, Pascual et al 2007) from along-track data (unfiltered and unsubsampled).…”

Section: The Balearic Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Recent improvements in mesoscale characterization of the western Mediterranean Sea: synergy between satellite altimetry and other observational approaches

Pascual¹,

Bouffard²,

Ruiz³

et al. 2013

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: Satellite altimetry is a key component of the global observing system and plays a major role in the study of the mesoscale processes that drive most of the ocean circulation variability at middle and high latitudes. However, satellite altimetry alone provides only surface information at a limited spatio-temporal resolution. To address these limitations and to better describe the mesoscale three-dimensional variability, it is necessary to complement altimetry data with additional remote and in situ measurements. This study provides an update of the recent advances in the study of the mesoscale variability using a combination of altimetry and other independent observations, with an emphasis on the results obtained for the western Mediterranean Sea. The circulation in this area is complex because of the presence of multiple interacting scales, including basin-scale, sub-basin-scale and mesoscale structures. Thus, characterizing these processes requires highresolution observations and multi-sensor approaches. Accordingly, multi-platform experiments and analyses have been designed and undertaken in the different sub-basins of the western Mediterranean Sea. These studies have demonstrated the advantages of synergetic approaches that use a combination of observation techniques and are able to resolve different spatiotemporal scales with the aim of better understanding mesoscale dynamics.Keywords: satellite altimetry, mesoscale variability, instruments and techniques, Mediterranean Sea. RESUMEN: AvAnces recientes en lA cArActerizAción de lA mesoescAlA en lA cuencA mediterráneA occidentAl: sinergiAs entre AltimetríA y otros sistemAs de observAción. -La altimetría satelitaria es una componente clave del sistema de observación global y juega un papel importante en el estudio de los procesos de mesoescala que impulsan la mayor parte de la variabilidad de la circulación oceánica en las latitudes medias y altas. Sin embargo, la altimetría por satélite sólo proporciona información superficial y con una resolución espacio-temporal limitada. Para hacer frente a estas limitaciones, es necesario complementar los datos de altimetría con otras medidas. Este estudio proporciona una actualización de los avances recientes en el estudio de la variabilidad de mesoescala utilizando una combinación de observaciones altimétricas con otros datos independientes en el Mediterráneo Occidental. La circulación en esta zona es compleja debido a la presencia de múltiples escalas interactuando entre ellas: cuenca, sub-cuenca y estructuras de mesoescala. Por tanto, la caracterización de estos procesos requiere de alta resolución en las observaciones y de enfoques multi-sensoriales. En este trabajo, presentamos una revisión de diversos experimentos multi-plataforma que se han diseñado y llevado a cabo en los diferentes sub-cuencas del Mediterráneo occidental durante los últimos años. Estos estudios han demostrado las ventajas de los enfoques sinérgicos y métodos innovadores que utilizan una combinación de técnicas de observación, y que son ca...

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Section: Discussion and Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Balearic Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent improvements in mesoscale characterization of the western Mediterranean Sea: synergy between satellite altimetry and other observational approaches

Pascual¹,

Bouffard²,

Ruiz³

et al. 2013

Sci. Mar.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[8] In order to compute the high-resolution (HR) fields, the method used is similar to that described by Dussurget et al [2011]. The larger scales are obtained from the standard AVISO product (see section 2.1 for a description).…”

Section: High-resolution Productmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dussurget et al [2011] recently addressed the need for better characterization of the mesoscale from satellite observations and developed a method that includes smaller correlation scales close to the altimeter tracks. Focusing on the Bay of Biscay, the resulting maps show coherent, finer-scale signals consistent with the information provided by remotely sensed ocean color measurements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvement of coastal and mesoscale observation from space: Application to the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

Escudier

Bouffard

Pascual

et al. 2013

Geophysical Research Letters

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[1] We present an innovative approach to the generation of remotely sensed high-resolution sea surface topography that improves coastal and mesoscale dynamic characterization. This new method is applied for the period 2002-2010 in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, an area marked by a small Rossby radius. The spectral content of the new mapped data is closer to that of the along-track signal and displays higher levels of energy in the mesoscale bandwidth with the probability distribution of the new velocity fields 30% closer to drifter estimations. The fields yield levels of eddy kinetic energy 25% higher than standard altimetry products, especially over regions regularly impacted by mesoscale instabilities. Moreover, qualitative and quantitative comparisons with drifters, glider, and satellite sea surface temperature observations further confirm that the new altimetry product provides, in many cases, a better representation of mesoscale features (more than 25% improvement in correlation with glider data during an experiment). Citation: Escudier, R., J. Bouffard, A. Pascual, P.-M. Poulain, and M.-I. Pujol (2013), Improvement of coastal and mesoscale observation from space: Application to the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, Geophys.

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“…In the present study, we aim at contributing to the description and the understanding of small-scale features in eastern boundary regions where the average level of kinetic energy remains low (Caballero et al, 2008;Dussurget et al, 2011) and of the mesoscale and submesoscale activity impact on long-term fluctuations related to evolution in atmospheric conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interannual evolution of (sub)mesoscale dynamics in the Bay of Biscay

Charria¹,

Theetten²,

Vandermeirsch³

et al. 2017

Ocean Sci.

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Abstract. In the north-east Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Biscay is an intersection between a coastal constrained dynamics (wide continental shelf and shelf break regions) and an eastern boundary circulation system. In this framework, the eddy kinetic energy is 1 order of magnitude lower than in western boundary systems. To explore this coastal complex system, a high-resolution (1 km, 100 vertical sigma layers) model experiment including tidal dynamics over a period of 10 years (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010) has been implemented. The ability of the numerical environment to reproduce main patterns over interannual scales is demonstrated. Based on this experiment, the features of the (sub)mesoscale processes are described in the deep part of the region (i.e. abyssal plain and continental slope). A system with the development of mixed layer instabilities at the end of winter is highlighted. Beyond confirming an observed behaviour of seasonal (sub)mesoscale activity in other regions, the simulated period allows exploring the interannual variability of these structures. A relationship between the winter maximum of mixed layer depth and the intensity of (sub)mesoscale related activity (vertical velocity, relative vorticity) is revealed and can be explained by largescale atmospheric forcings (e.g. the cold winter in 2005). The first submesoscale-permitting exploration of this 3-D coastal system shows the importance of (sub)mesoscale activity in this region with its evolution implying a potentially significant impact on vertical and horizontal mixing.

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Fine Resolution Altimetry Data for a Regional Application in the Bay of Biscay

Cited by 48 publications

References 55 publications

Recent improvements in mesoscale characterization of the western Mediterranean Sea: synergy between satellite altimetry and other observational approaches

Recent improvements in mesoscale characterization of the western Mediterranean Sea: synergy between satellite altimetry and other observational approaches

Improvement of coastal and mesoscale observation from space: Application to the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

Interannual evolution of (sub)mesoscale dynamics in the Bay of Biscay

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