Altimetry in the Gulf of Mexico: an examination of ERS-1 and TOPEX/POSEIDON

Over the past year, sea surface height anomaly data from both ERS-1 and Topex/Poseidon altimeters have been posted on a science bulletin board in a unique program to rapidly disseminate data among workers in the Gulf of Mexico. Other contributions to this board from a variety of data sources such as Argos tracked drifters and frontal analysis from AVHRR have enabled good comparisons. Operational time scale submission to the bulletin board imposes a difficult set of requirements, especially with respect to the altimetric reference surface. The authors have investigated the use of a single "flat" track as a reference. Comparisons are made for the Loop Current and its rings and for altimetry in near coastal areas.<>