Altimeter Observations of Sea Level and Currents off Atlantic Canada

Abstract

The advent of high-accuracy (a few centimeters) satellite altimetry has provided an unprecedented opportunity for monitoring and investigating sea level and circulation variability off Atlantic Canada. A number of exploratory studies have combined satellite altimetry with hydrographic measurements, other remote-sensing data, and ocean model results to understand sea level and circulation variability at various temporal and spatial scales, e.g. seasonal and interannual variability of the Labrador Current, interannual variability of coastal, shelf, and slope sea level, and the Gulf Stream warm core rings. The Labrador Current as part of the coastal currents of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre dominates the circulation along the Atlantic Canadian shelves. The studies of the Labrador Current provide good examples of coastal applications of satellite altimetry, a challenging yet high-priority area facing the international science community. This chapter provides a detailed review on advances in applications of satellite altimetry to the coastal and shelf circulation off Atlantic Canada within the last decade and a brief discussion on challenges and prospects of coastal altimetry.