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On determining the large-scale ocean circulation from satellite altimetryIt is contended that a spherical harmonic expansion of the difference between the altimeter-derived mean sea surface and the geoid estimate should reveal the large-scale circulation of the ocean surface layer when the low-degree terms are examined. Methods based on this principle are proposed and partially demonstrated over the Pacific Ocean with the aid of the mean sea surface derived from the Seasat altimeter and the Goddard Earth Model 9 earth gravity model. The preliminary results reveal a well-defined clockwise gyre in the North Pacific and a much less well defined counterclockwise gyre in the South Pacific. When the dynamic topography thus obtained is compared with Wyrtki's (1975) dynamic topography derived from hydrographic data, the agreement is found to be within the limit of geoid uncertainties and satellite orbital errors.
Document ID
19840030365
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Tai, C.-K.
(MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
November 20, 1983
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 88
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Oceanography
Accession Number
84A13152
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG6-9
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF OCE-80-18514
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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