FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Can oceanic submesoscale processes be observed with satellite altimetry? BT AF CHAVANNE, Cedric KLEIN, Patrice AS 1:1;2:2; FF 1:;2:; C1 Univ E Anglia, Sch Environm Sci, Norwich NR4 7TJ, Norfolk, England. IFREMER CNRS UBO IRD, Lab Phys Oceans, F-29280 Plouzane, France. C2 UNIV E ANGLIA, UK CNRS, FRANCE IF 3.505 TC 46 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00019/13037/10153.pdf LA English DT Article AB High-resolution (2 km and hourly) observations of surface currents from High-Frequency Radars are analyzed in terms of sea level anomalies (SLA) and compared with data from two satellite altimeter ground tracks. Purpose is to investigate whether ocean submesoscale processes can be observed with satellite altimetry. Our results highlight two major problems that must be overcome before being able to resolve submesoscale processes with altimetry: (i) signal contamination from high-frequency motions and in particular from incoherent internal tides (near-inertial oscillations have no effect on SLA), and (ii) measurement noise which prevents the computation of accurate cross-track currents on scales O (10 km). The latter may be overcome by future satellite altimeter missions, but the former will require taking into account the effect of mesoscale variability on internal tide propagation in regions where internal tides are significant. Citation: Chavanne, C. P., and P. Klein (2010), Can oceanic submesoscale processes be observed with satellite altimetry?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L22602, doi: 10.1029/2010GL045057. PY 2010 PD NOV SO Geophysical Research Letters SN 0094-8276 PU Amer Geophysical Union VL 37 UT 000284479300004 DI 10.1029/2010GL045057 ID 13037 ER EF