Publication Date:
2017-10-19
Description:
In this paper we analyze the impact of multi-satellite altimeter observations assimilation in a
high-resolution Mediterranean model. Four different altimeter missions (Jason-1, Envisat,
Topex/Poseidon interleaved and Geosat Follow-On) are used over a 7-month period [September
2004, March 2005] to study the impact of the assimilation of one to four satellites on the analyses
quality. The study highlights three important results. First, it shows the positive impact of the
altimeter data on the analyses. The corrected fields capture missing structures of the circulation and
eddies are modified in shape, position and intensity with respect to the model simulation. Secondly,
the study demonstrates the improvement in the analyses induced by each satellite. The impact of the
addition of a second satellite is almost equivalent to the improvement given by the introduction of
the first satellite: the second satellite data brings a 12% reduction of the root mean square of the
differences between analyses and observations for the Sea Level Anomaly (SLA). The third and
fourth satellite also significantly improve the rms, with more than 3% reduction for each of them.
Finally, it is shown that Envisat and Geosat Follow-On additions to J1 impact the analyses more
than the addition of Topex/Poseidon suggesting that the across track spatial resolution is still one of
the important aspects of a multi-mission satellite observing system. This result could support the
concept of multi-mission altimetric monitoring done by complementary horizontal resolution
satellite orbits.
Description:
Submitted
Description:
1.8. Osservazioni di geofisica ambientale
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
open
Keywords:
Sea Level Assimilation
;
Forecasting Model
;
03. Hydrosphere::03.01. General::03.01.05. Operational oceanography
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
manuscript
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