Large Scale Ocean Circulation from the GRACE GGM01 Geoid

Authors

B. D. Tapley, University of Texas
D. Chambers, University of TexasFollow
S. Bettadpur, University of Texas
J. C. Ries, University of Texas

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2003

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL018622

Abstract

The GRACE Gravity Model 01 (GGM01), computed from 111 days of GRACE K-band ranging (KBR) data, is differenced from a global mean sea surface (MSS) computed from a decade of satellite altimetry to determine a mean dynamic ocean topography (DOT). As a test of the GGM01 gravity model, large-scale zonal and meridional surface geostrophic currents are computed from the topography and are compared with those derived from a mean hydrographic surface. Reduction in residual RMS between the two by 30–60% (and increased correlation) indicates that the GGM01 geoid represents a dramatic improvement over older geoid models, which were developed from multiple satellite tracking data, altimetry, and surface gravity measurements. For the first time, all major current systems are clearly observed in the DOT from space-based measurements.

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Geophysical Research Letters, v. 30, issue 22

Copyright 2003 by the American Geophysical Union.

Scholar Commons Citation

Tapley, B. D.; Chambers, D.; Bettadpur, S.; and Ries, J. C., "Large Scale Ocean Circulation from the GRACE GGM01 Geoid" (2003). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 201.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/201