Analysis of Temporal Sea Level Variation in the Barents and the White Seas from Altimetry, Tide Gauges and Hydrodynamic Simulation

Abstract

Seasonal and interannual sea level variability is usually estimated using coastal metoocean station data. Presently many Russian stations have been closed, and for the open water areas the continuous series of sea level observations are usually short or missing. At the same time, the importantly of ths information is obvious because of perspective development continental shelf of resources has begun. To a certain extent modern verified hydrodynamic models taking into account the complex range of driving forces which produce water motions, and also satellite altimetry data help to solve this problem. In this paper temporal sea level variability in the Barents and the White Seas are presented by three independent types of data: tide gauge data, satellite altimetry data, and results of hydrodynamic simulation for costal zone (in the areas of gauge locations) and for open seas (along satellite tracks and in the areas of gas and oil fields on the sea shelf).