Nontidal ocean loading: amplitudes and potential effects in GPS height time series

• DOI: 10.1007/s00190-012-0564-5
• Publication Date: 2012-05-05T18:35:57Z
• Authors: T. van Dam; X. Collilieux; J. Wuite; Z. Altamimi; J. Ray
• Keywords: Coordinate time; Sea-surface height

Ocean bottom pressure (OBP) changes are caused by a redistribution of the ocean's internal mass that driven atmospheric circulation, change in entering or leaving ocean, and/or integrated over ocean areas. The only previous global analysis investigating magnitude OBP surface displacements used older data sets (van Dam et al. J Geophys Res 129:507–517, 1997). Since then significant improvements meteorological forcing models to predict have been made, augmented observations from satellite altimetry and expendable bathythermograph profiles. Using more recent estimates Estimating Circulation Climate (ECCO) project, we reassess amplitude predicted effect on height coordinate time series distribution GPS stations. OBP-predicted loading effects display an RMS scatter between 0.2 3.7 mm, larger than previously reported but still much smaller (by factor 2) observed due loading. Given improvement hardware techniques, signal is similar precision weekly coordinates. We estimate using MIT reprocessed solution, mi1. When compare with mi1, find reduced all stations 0.1 mm average reductions as high 0.7 at some More importantly able reduce 65 % investigated. annual component responsible for 80 reduction average. located close semi-enclosed bays seas affected greater extent other