Measuring currents, ice drift, and waves from space: the Sea surface KInematics Multiscale monitoring (SKIM) concept

Type Article
Date 2018-05
Language English
Author(s) Ardhuin FabriceORCID1, Aksenov Yevgueny2, Benetazzo Alvise3, Bertino Laurent4, Brandt Peter5, Caubet Eric6, Chapron BertrandORCID17, Collard Fabrice7, Cravatte Sophie8, Delouis Jean MarcORCID1, Dias Frederic9, Dibarboure Gerald10, Gaultier Lucile7, Johannessen Johnny4, Korosov Anton4, Manucharyan Georgy11, Menemenlis Dimitris12, Menendez Melisa13, Monnier Goulven14, Mouche AlexisORCID17, Nouguier FredericORCID17, Nurser George2, Rampal Pierre4, Reniers Ad15, Rodriguez Ernesto12, Stopa Justin1, Tison Celine10, Ubelmann Clement15, Van Sebille Erik16, Xie Jiping4
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Brest, CNRS, IFREMER, LOPS,IRD, Brest, France.
2 : Natl Oceanog Ctr, Southampton SO14 3ZH, Hants, England.
3 : CNR, ISMAR, Natl Res Council, Inst Marine Sci, Venice, Italy.
4 : Nansen Environm & Remote Sensing Ctr, Bergen, Norway.
5 : GEOMAR Helmholtz Ctr Ocean Res Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
6 : Thales Alenia Space, Toulouse, France.
7 : OceanDataLab, 870 Route Deolen, F-29280 Locmaria Plouzane, France.
8 : Univ Toulouse, LEGOS, CNES, CNRS,IRD, Toulouse, France.
9 : Univ Coll, Dublin, Ireland.
10 : CNES, 18 Ave Edouard Belin, F-31400 Toulouse, France.
11 : CALTECH, Div Geol & Planetary Sci, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA.
12 : CALTECH, Earth Sci Div, Jet Prop Lab, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA.
13 : Univ Cantabria, Environm Hydraul Inst IH Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
14 : Scalian Alyotech, 2 Rue Antoine Becquerel, F-35700 Rennes, France.
15 : CLS, 8-10 Rue Hermes, F-31520 Ramonville St Agne, France.
16 : Univ Utrecht, Inst Marine & Atmospher Res, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Source Ocean Science (1812-0784) (Copernicus Gesellschaft Mbh), 2018-05 , Vol. 14 , N. 3 , P. 337-354
DOI 10.5194/os-14-337-2018
WOS© Times Cited 83
Abstract

We propose a satellite mission that uses a near-nadir Ka-band Doppler radar to measure surface currents, ice drift and ocean waves at spatial scales of 40 km and more, with snapshots at least every day for latitudes 75 to 82 degrees, and every few days for other latitudes. The use of incidence angles of 6 and 12 degrees allows for measurement of the directional wave spectrum, which yields accurate corrections of the wave-induced bias in the current measurements. The instrument's design, an algorithm for current vector retrieval and the expected mission performance are presented here. The instrument proposed can reveal features of tropical ocean and marginal ice zone (MIZ) dynamics that are inaccessible to other measurement systems, and providing global monitoring of the ocean mesoscale that surpasses the capability of today's nadir altimeters. Measuring ocean wave properties has many applications, including examining wave-current interactions, air-sea fluxes, the transport and convergence of marine plastic debris and assessment of marine and coastal hazards.

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Final revised paper 18 5 MB Open access
Discussion paper, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-2017-65 26 5 MB Open access
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Ardhuin Fabrice, Aksenov Yevgueny, Benetazzo Alvise, Bertino Laurent, Brandt Peter, Caubet Eric, Chapron Bertrand, Collard Fabrice, Cravatte Sophie, Delouis Jean Marc, Dias Frederic, Dibarboure Gerald, Gaultier Lucile, Johannessen Johnny, Korosov Anton, Manucharyan Georgy, Menemenlis Dimitris, Menendez Melisa, Monnier Goulven, Mouche Alexis, Nouguier Frederic, Nurser George, Rampal Pierre, Reniers Ad, Rodriguez Ernesto, Stopa Justin, Tison Celine, Ubelmann Clement, Van Sebille Erik, Xie Jiping (2018). Measuring currents, ice drift, and waves from space: the Sea surface KInematics Multiscale monitoring (SKIM) concept. Ocean Science, 14(3), 337-354. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-337-2018 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00442/55318/