CoAuthors

Ole Andersen (DTU Space, Denmark); David Sandwell (UC San Diego, USA); Eric Leuliette (NOAA, USA); Philippe Schaeffer (CLS, France); Shengjun Zhang (NorthEast University, China)

Currently a number of high-resolution MSS models are under development at DTU, CLS and SIO in preparation for the Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission to launching in February 2022. We present the status of ongoing work in the SWOT MSS science working group and evaluation of current available MSS models from SIO, CLS and DTU. Various approaches are in use in determining both full MSS models and short-wavelength corrections to existing MSS models. Determining short-wavelength correction can be accomplished using either sea surface heights with a refined crossover adjustment or sea surface slopes. We will present the first cross-comparison of available MSS model to discuss the way forward for MSS computation for SWOT.
A number of open issues remain for discussion.
1.Averaging period (as long as possible or a fraction like 20 years)
2.Usage of atmospheric correction (DAC correction).
3.Application of the MSS slope correction suggested by Sandwell and Smith.