Study of new S6-MF capability in tandem with J3 and together with other satellite data sets to measure internal wave surface signatures over the ocean
Internal waves are characterized by large-amplitude vertical displacements (typically 50-150 meters) near the largest density gradient in the water column. Their energy propagates for hundreds of kilometers perpendicularly to their crests, from generation sites near steep underwater topography to eventually breaking nearshore or dissipating offshore. They are also characterized by significant vertical velocities, mixing and associated vertical fluxes. These have implications in biological productivity and biomass observable from satellites, and can crucially affect the ocean up to the climate scale.
Recent work (Magalhaes and da Silva, 2017; Santos-Ferreria et al, 2018; 2019; Magalhaes et al., 2021) demonstrates that internal waves can be observed by satellite altimetry. This study focus on an analysis of the signature of internal waves by inter-comparing S6-MF and J3 in tandem together with other satellite data sets (e.g. Sentinel-3 OLCI/SLSTR, Sentinel-2 MSI and Sentinel-1 SAR images). Subsurface internal waves alter the ocean surface roughness that is imprinted in sigma0 signatures as well as SWH impacts at small-scale (1-3 kms) to medium-scale (10s of kms). The signature of SAR and LRM on the same internal waves, collocated with other satellite data (e.g. Sentinel-1 SAR, Sentinel-3 OLCI sun glitter etc.) will form the basis of this work. An analysis of the SWH signatures in the same fashion of Magalhaes et al, 2021 is performed.
This activity aims to perform:
- ISW signature comparison in L2 HR Sentinel-6 MF and Jason-3 20 Hz data, in parameters such as sigma0, SWH and SSHA.
- Multi-Scale analysis of SWH in L2 HR Sentinel-6 MF and Jason-3 20 Hz data.
- FFSAR S6-MF L1b radargram analysis over ISWs
REFERENCES
- Magalhaes, J. M., Alpers, W., Santos-Ferreira, A. M., & Da Silva, J. C. (2021). Surface wave breaking caused by internal solitary waves effects on radar backscattering measured by SAR and radar altimeter. Oceanography, 34(2).
- Santos-Ferreira, A. M., Da Silva, J. C., & Magalhaes, J. M. (2018). SAR mode altimetry observations of internal solitary waves in the tropical ocean Part 1: Case studies. Remote Sensing, 10(4), 644.
- Santos-Ferreira, A. M., Da Silva, J. C., & Srokosz, M. (2019). SAR-Mode altimetry observations of internal solitary waves in the tropical ocean part 2: a method of detection. Remote Sensing, 11(11), 1339.
- Magalhães, J. M., & da Silva, J. C. (2017). Satellite altimetry observations of large-scale internal solitary waves. IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, 14(4), 534-538