FES2014 global ocean tide atlas: design and performance

Abstract. Since the mid-1990s, a series of FES (finite element solution) global ocean tidal atlases has been produced and released with primary objective to provide altimetry missions de-aliasing correction at best possible accuracy. We describe underlying hydrodynamic data assimilation design accuracy assessments for latest FES2014 release (finalized in early 2016), especially purposes. The atlas shows extremely significant improvements compared standard FES2004 (intermediary) FES2012 atlases, all compartments, shelf coastal seas, thanks unstructured grid flexible resolution, recent progress (prior assimilation) solutions, use ensemble technique. Compared earlier releases, available constituent's spectrum significantly extended, overall resolution augmented, additional scientific byproducts such as loading self-attraction, energy diagnostics, or lowest astronomical tides have derived from are available. other clearly improved performance most areas consequently integrated satellite geophysical records (GDRs) gravimetric processing adopted recently renewed ITRF standards (International Terrestrial Reference System, 2020). It also provides very accurate open-boundary conditions regional modelling.