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Observing Sea Levels in the China Seas from Satellite Altimetry

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Remote Sensing of the Asian Seas

Abstract

Due to the threat of global warming, extensive studies of the natural and anthropogenic causes of sea level change have been performed. The use of satellite altimetry contributes enormously to such studies, especially where in situ observations are rare. This chapter highlights the authors’ recent investigations of sea level measurements in the China seas made by satellite altimetry . Different sea level components are investigated. Progress is being made towards a better estimation of the ocean tides in the China seas using a comprehensive combination of satellite altimetry products. The seasonal sea level cycle , another crucial component of sea level in the China seas , is also systematically studied by using different analysis approaches. We finally explore the long-term trends and variability of mean sea level by analyzing the latest (1993–2016) satellite altimetry . The relationships between mean sea level and large-scale ocean circulation and climate variability are also examined.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the RADS (Radar Altimeter Database System), which enables users to select optimal corrections to altimetry data to decrease the effects of corrections on the retrieval of ocean tides . We also thank AVISO for making the satellite altimeter sea level records and DAC data retrievable (www.aviso.altimetry.fr), and the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level for making the tide gauge data retrievable (www.psmsl.org). Climate indices are obtained via NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory and www.o3d.org/npgo/. Finally, we thank C. M. Thomas at the University of Reading for improving the paper writing, as well as two reviewers for their comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UK

    Xiangbo Feng

  2. Beijing Piesat Information Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, China

    Yongcun Cheng

  3. Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA

    Yongcun Cheng

Authors
  1. Xiangbo Feng
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  2. Yongcun Cheng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiangbo Feng .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy

    Vittorio Barale

  2. Institute of Oceanography, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Martin Gade

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Feng, X., Cheng, Y. (2019). Observing Sea Levels in the China Seas from Satellite Altimetry. In: Barale, V., Gade, M. (eds) Remote Sensing of the Asian Seas. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94067-0_18

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