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| Titel |
From satellite altimetry to Argo and operational oceanography: three revolutions in oceanography |
| VerfasserIn |
P. Y. Le Traon |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1812-0784
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Ocean Science ; 9, no. 5 ; Nr. 9, no. 5 (2013-10-29), S.901-915 |
| Datensatznummer |
250085248
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/os-9-901-2013.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The launch of the French/US mission Topex/Poseidon (T/P) (CNES/NASA) in
August 1992 was the start of a revolution in oceanography. For the first
time, a very precise altimeter system optimized for large-scale sea level and
ocean circulation observations was flying. T/P alone could not observe the
mesoscale circulation. In the 1990s, the ESA satellites ERS-1/2 were flying
simultaneously with T/P. Together with my CLS colleagues, we demonstrated
that we could use T/P as a reference mission for ERS-1/2 and bring the
ERS-1/2 data to an accuracy level comparable to T/P. Near-real-time
high-resolution global sea level anomaly maps were then derived. These maps
have been operationally produced as part of the SSALTO/DUACS system for the
last 15 yr. They are now widely used by the oceanographic community and have
contributed to a much better understanding and recognition of the role and
importance of mesoscale dynamics. Altimetry needs to be complemented with
global in situ observations. At the end of the 90s, a major international
initiative was launched to develop Argo, the global array of profiling
floats. This has been an outstanding success. Argo floats now provide the
most important in situ observations to monitor and understand the role of the
ocean on the earth climate and for operational oceanography. This is a second
revolution in oceanography. The unique capability of satellite altimetry to
observe the global ocean in near-real-time at high resolution and the
development of Argo were essential for the development of global operational
oceanography, the third revolution in oceanography. The Global Ocean Data
Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) was instrumental in the development of the
required capabilities. This paper provides an historical perspective on the
development of these three revolutions in oceanography which are very much
interlinked. This is not an exhaustive review and I will mainly focus on the
contributions we made together with many colleagues and friends. |
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