Investigating the 59-Day Error Signal in the Mean Sea Level Derived From TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, and Jason-2 Data With FES and GOT Ocean Tide Models

Abstract

Since the beginning of the altimeter mission TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P), followed by Jason-1 and Jason-2 on similar orbits, and many other missions on different orbits (ERS, EnviSat, etc.), mean sea level (MSL) products became essential for the comprehension of global ocean circulation. Since early in the T/P mission, a suspicious signal, having a period of near 59 days and amplitude of roughly 5 mm, was apparent in the Global MSL record. Compared with the 4–5-mm amplitude of the annual signal, the 59-day signal has understandably attracted attention. Moreover, the same signal has been subsequently detected in Jason-1 and later in Jason-2 MSLs. In 2010, the Ocean Surface Topography Science Team (OSTST) concluded this signal as the aliasing of a higher frequency error inherited from the tide model correction: the semi-diurnal wave S2. The source of this error was mainly attributed to T/P measurements, which were assimilated in ocean tide models. When these models are used in the computation of T/P MSL, most of the error cancels. However, this error is communicated to Jason-1 and Jason-2 MSLs. In order to gather and publish the OSTST analyses on this matter, this paper first attempts to list the myriad possibilities for the puzzling 59-day error in MSL. Then, this paper goes deeper into the description of the main contributor to this list: the tide models error. Indeed, since 2010, considerable efforts have been undertaken within the ocean tide community in order to correct ocean tide S2-waves from this error, particularly in the Goddard Ocean Tide (GOT) and finite element solution (FES) latest versions. Comparing several GOT and FES versions and a pure hydrodynamic tide model, this paper assesses, quantifies, and describes a reduction of the MSL 59-day error thanks to the latest releases. These analyses also confirm that a large part of this error has its origins in the T/P mission and has contaminated ocean tide solutions and Jason-1 and Jason-2 MSLs. They also suggest that ocean tide is not the only possible vector. Jason-1 and Jason-2 MSLs contain additional 59-day error—though to a lesser extent—that may either come from the measurements themselves or from another vector.