Ocean Surface Currents Reconstruction: Spectral Characterization of the Transfer Function Between SST and SSH

Knowledge of ocean surface current at high resolutions is crucial for many applications. In addition to the classic satellite altimetry retrieval from sea surface height (SSH), ocean surface currents can be retrieved from sea surface temperature (SST) observations using a transfer function between SST and SSH. Previous works showed the potential of microwave SST observations to reconstruct ocean surface currents using a synergistic approach: an optimal transfer function that combines the phase of SST with the SSH amplitude spectra. This synergistic approach revealed that surface quasi geostrophy (SQG) reconstruction can be enhanced and opened up the possibility to improve spatial resolution of ocean currents retrieved from altimeters observations if infrared SST observations are considered. However, before applying this synergistic approach to satellite observations, we need to analyze and characterize the spectral properties of the transfer function. This spectral characterization of the transfer function allows to exploit the synergy between SST and SSH observations that have different measurement topology and different spatial resolution. Here, we performed a feasibility study using the daily outputs of the operational Mercator global analysis and forecast system at (1/12)degrees in the western coast of Australia (27-35 degrees S, 107-113 degrees E) spanning from 26 November 2012 to 26 November 2016. Results showed that the mean transfer function in this region presents two well different bands: one characterized by a negative slope slightly steeper (alpha = -1.2) than the k(-1) predicted by the SQG solution for scales smaller than 270km and another characterized by a plateau for wavelengths larger than 270km. In addition, the results revealed that the inhomogeneity in dynamics of the flow limits global solutions. Finally, we showed that information contained along the track is enough for a synoptic reconstruction of the flow in this region, which shows the feasibility of applying this methodology to real satellite observations. Key Points The transfer function between SST and SSH presents two different bands: a plateau (larger scales) and a negative slope (smaller scales) Along track information enough to reconstruct a synoptic view of the flow in this region Future improvements of spatial resolution of ocean surface currents retrieved from remote sensing observations