Gravity field recovery from satellite altimetry provides global marine coverage but lacks the accuracy and resolution needed for many exploration geophysics studies. The repeating ground tracks of the ERS-1/2, Geosat, and Topex/Poseidon altimeters offer the possibility of improving the accuracy and resolution of gravity anomalies along widely spaced (∼40-km spacing) tracks. However, complete oc...

A full-spectral third-generation ocean wind-wave model, Wavewatch-III, has been implemented in the South China Sea (SCS) for investigating wind-wave characteristics. This model was developed at the Ocean Modeling Branch of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The NASA QuickSCAT data (0.258 resolution) 2 times daily were used to simulate the wind waves for the entire year of...

Data from four satellite altimeters are combined with the aim of improving the representation of the mesoscale variability in the Global Ocean. All missions [Jason-1, ERS-2/ENVISAT, Topex/Poseidon interleaved with Jason-1 and Geosat Follow-On] are cross-calibrated previously to produce weekly gridded maps. In areas of intense variability, the rms differences between a classical configuration of...

Global brightness temperature observations of TOPEX/Poseidon microwave radiometer (TMR) at 18, 21, and 37 GHz have been collocated with near-simultaneous SeaWinds wind vector data as well as with monthly sea surface temperature and salinity products. The combined data allow us to study the dependence of zenith-directed ocean surface emissivity, at each frequency, upon both wind speed and direct...