Exploiting satellite altimetry in coastal ocean through the ALTICORE project

S. Vignudelli
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biofisica, Area Ricerca CNR San Cataldo, Pisa, Italy

H. M. Snaith, P.  Cipollini, and F. Venuti
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK

F. Lyard, J. Bouffard, J. F. Cretaux, and F. Birol
Laboratoire d'Etudes Géophysique et Ocèanographie Spatiale, Toulouse Cedex 9, France

L. Roblou
Noveltis, Parc Technologique du Canal 2, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France

A.  Kostianoy, A. Ginzburg, N. Sheremet, and E. Kuzmina
P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Moscow, Russia

R. Mamedov, K. Ismatova, A.  Alyev, and B. Mustafayev
Institute of Geography, Center for Caspian Sea Problems, Baku, Azerbaijan

Abstract

[1]  Altimeter-derived information on sea level and sea state could be extremely important for resolving the complex dynamics of the coastal ocean. Satellite altimetry was not originally conceived with coastal ocean in mind, but future missions (AltiKa and CryoSat-2) promise much improved nearshore capabilities. A current priority is to analyze the existing, under-exploited, 15-year global archive of coastal altimeter data to draw recommendations for these missions. There are intrinsic difficulties in processing and interpretation of the data, e.g.: the proximity of land, control by the seabed, and rapid variations due to tides and atmospheric effects. But there are also unexploited possibilities, including higher along track data rates and multi-altimetry scenarios that need to be explored. There are also difficulties of accessing and manipulating data from multiple sources, many of which undergo regular revision and enhancement. In response to these needs, the ALTICORE (ALTImetry for COastal REgions - www.alticore.eu) project started in December 2006, funded for two-years by the European INTAS scheme (www.intas.be). The overall aim of ALTICORE is to build up capacity for provision of altimeter-based information in support of coastal ocean studies in some European Seas (Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, White and Barents). ALTICORE will also contribute to improved cooperation between Europe and Eastern countries and enhance networking of capacity in the area of satellite altimetry. This paper discusses the approach, summarizes the planned work and shows how the coastal community should eventually benefit from better access to improved altimeter-derived information.

Received 21 November 2007; accepted 27 December 2007; published 24 January 2008.

Keywords: satellite altimetry, coastal ocean, ALTICORE project.

Index Terms: 1240 Geodesy and Gravity: Satellite geodesy: results; 1241 Geodesy and Gravity: Satellite geodesy: technical issues; 1641 Global Change: Sea level change; 4217 Oceanography: General: Coastal processes.

Citation: Lebedev, S., A. Sirota, D. Medvedev, S. Khlebnikova, S. Vignudelli, H. M. Snaith, P.  Cipollini, F. Venuti, F. Lyard, J. Bouffard, J. F. Cretaux, F. Birol, L. Roblou, A.  Kostianoy, A. Ginzburg, N. Sheremet, E. Kuzmina, R. Mamedov, K. Ismatova, A.  Alyev, and B. Mustafayev (2008), Exploiting satellite altimetry in coastal ocean through the ALTICORE project, Russ. J. Earth Sci., 10, ES1002, doi:10.2205/2007ES000262.