M2 ocean tide at Cobb Seamount from SEASAT altimeter data

Abstract

SEASAT altimetry, reduced to sea surface heights and harmonically analyzed at the frequencies of the dominant tidal components, provides a direct measurement of M2 ocean tide parameters near Cobb seamount in the northeast Pacific. Comparison of these altimetric tide parameters with those determined from a bottom pressure gauge located on the summit of Cobb seamount shows fair agreement in amplitude (43 cm versus 81 cm) and good agreement in Greenwich phase angle (243 versus 242 degrees). The precision of the altimeter solution is estimated at 8 cm in amplitude and 10 degrees in phase angle.