Premium
Improving the geoid: Combining altimetry and mean dynamic topography in the California coastal ocean
Author(s) -
Mazloff Matthew R.,
Gille Sarah T.,
Cornuelle Bruce
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl062402
Subject(s) - geoid , altimeter , geodesy , ocean surface topography , geology , gravitational field , satellite , sea surface height , remote sensing , dynamic height , satellite altimetry , global positioning system , geophysics , oceanography , computer science , physics , hydrography , measured depth , telecommunications , astronomy
Satellite gravity mapping missions, altimeters, and other platforms have allowed the Earth's geoid to be mapped over the ocean to a horizontal resolution of approximately 100 km with an uncertainty of less than 10 cm. At finer resolution this uncertainty increases to greater than 10 cm. Achieving greater accuracy requires accurate estimates of the dynamic ocean topography (DOT). In this study two DOT estimates for the California Current System with uncertainties less than 10 cm are used to solve for a geoid correction field. The derived field increases the consistency between the DOTs and along‐track altimetric observations, suggesting it is a useful correction to the gravitational field. The correction is large compared to the dynamic ocean topography, with a magnitude of 15 cm and significant structure, especially near the coast. The results are evidence that modern high‐resolution dynamic ocean topography products can be used to improve estimates of the geoid.