Comments on Ocean Circulation with 

 Regard to Satellite Altimetry 



Wilton Sturges 

 University of Rhode Island 



Abstract 



Basic features of sea-surface topography are reviewed, 

 to show those oceanographic results which may be of value 

 to a geodetic satellite program: (1) the shape and magnitude 

 of the large-scale features of the mean sea surface, relative 

 to a level surface; (2) the position and magnitude of the 

 slopes across the western boundary currents, from a variety 

 of data; (3) an estimate of the position of the Geoid, tied 

 into the U.S. leveling network (4) a documented change of 

 60 to 70 cm in mean sea level, with respect to the Geoid, 

 between the U.S. east and west coasts. Presents maps of 

 item (1) are accurate to about 30 cm, but this accuracy 

 could be im.proved to about 10 cm with existing data. Some 

 oceanographic problems which seem compatible with the 

 capabilities and advantages of satellite altimetry are; 

 (1) to locate the positions of the major western boundary 

 currents, particularly the meandering portions, to obtain 

 data for a variety of questions; (2) to determine the status 

 of currents whose existence or position depends on climatological 

 factors either not well understood or not easily measured; 

 (3) to resolve the present conflict between oceanographic and 

 land levelling with regard to the north-south slope of sea 

 level along the coasts; (4) to track, insofar as possible, 

 the mid-ocean eddies which are roughly 100 km in horizontal 

 extent . 



This paper is about several aspects of the large-scale 

 ocean circulation, particularly as they relate to data that 



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