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fold faq Is it possible to estimate geostrophic currents from altimetry data?

April 26, 2017altimetry currents Data estimate fold geostrophic possible

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fold faq Is it possible to estimate geostrophic currents from altimetry data?

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Satellite altimetry allows to measure the Sea Surface Height (SSH) with a few centimeters precision. Appart from the equatorial band (ie, 5°N,5°S), the geostrophy can be assumed with a good certainty: it means that the slope of the sea surface measured by the altimeter along the satellite track is assumed to be DYNAMIC TOPOGRAPHY. In other word, it means that this slope is directly related to the pressure gradient at the sea surface, and thus, to a GEOSTROPHIC VELOCITY at the surface.