On the accuracy of gravimetric geoids and the recovery of oceanographic signals from altimetry

The accuracy of measurements of gravity over the North Atlantic is assessed. The effect of errors due mainly to aliasing, of the distribution of available data, and of the unresolved geoid power on geoidal estimates is determined. A crude estimate of circulation in the North Atlantic is obtained by using the simplest of preconceptions: a reasonable rms value of zeta prime, the component of the surface expression of seawater motion corresponding to the general circulation.