Blending drifters and altimetric data to estimate surface currents: Application in the Levantine Mediterranean and objective validation with different data types

An improved estimation of the surface currents in Levantine Basin Mediterranean sea is crucial for a wide range applications, including pollutants transport and nutrients distribution. This remains challenging due to scarcity or shortcomings various data types used this purpose. In paper, we present an objective validation variational assimilation algorithm that blends geostrophic velocities derived from altimetry, wind-induced velocities, drifter positions, continuously obtain velocity corrections. The assessment impact was based on available independent in-situ (current meters, gliders, drifters) satellite ocean color images. all cases, improvement shown either qualitatively (position eddies) quantitatively.