Wide-swath satellite altimetry unveils global submesoscale ocean dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Ocean submesoscale (1-100 km) processes and their substantial impact on Earth's climate system have been increasingly emphasized in recent decades by high-resolution numerical models and regional observations^1-11. However, the dynamics and energy associated with these processes, including submesoscale eddies and nonlinear internal waves, have never been observed from a global perspective. Where, when and how much do these submesoscale processes contribute to the large-scale ocean circulation and climate system? Here we show data from the recently launched Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite¹² that not only confirm the characteristics of submesoscale eddies and waves but also suggest that their potential impacts on ocean energetics, the marine ecosystem

SUBMITTER: Archer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12003163 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature