Observing the pole tide with satellite altimetry

Abstract

[1] Almost 9 years of sea surface height observations from the TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) satellite altimetry mission are used to observe the geocentric pole tide deformations of the sea surface. If the oceans are assumed to have an equilibrium response, then satellite altimeters effectively observe the equipotential surface that is associated with the solid Earth and ocean pole tide deformations. The long-wavelength component of the geocentric pole tide deformations at the Chandler wobble period is observed from T/P altimetry to be consistent with the theoretical self-consistent equilibrium response of the ocean pole tide. The geocentric pole tide explains 70% of the variance in the degree 2 order 1 spherical harmonic component of the residual sea surface heights that are observed by T/P, after removing the seasonal, inverse barometer, and lunisolar tidal effects. If the long-wavelength component of the ocean pole tide is assumed to have an equilibrium response at the Chandler wobble period, then satellite altimetry proves to be another geodetic technique that can be used to estimate the Love number k 2 at that period.

Determination of the Earth's pole tide Love number k2 from observations of polar motion using an adaptive Kalman filter approach

“…Consequently DyMEG requires a lower damping than proposed by the value for the pole tide Love number provided by the Conventions of the IERS in combination with the (real valued) correction for the effect of equilibrium ocean pole tides following Smith and Dahlen [1981] and Mathews et al [2002]. Up to now no runs have been performed with DyMEG using the alternative ocean pole tide model of Desai [2002] (cf. Section 2.3).…”

The Geodesist’s Handbook 2016

“…Here it should be mentioned again that the direct deformation of the Earth's surface caused by the tide-generating potential is estimated applying (frequency-dependent) Love numbers for an elastic Earth. The ocean pole tide loading is computed using the model of equilibrium of Desai [2002]. The pole tide and ocean pole tide loading effects in GRACE and GOCE and in terrestrial gravity data of high-precision (absolute and superconducting gravimetry) are computed as in the IERS Conventions.…”

The Effects of the IERS Conventions (2010) on High Precision Orbit Propagation

“…The centrifugal potential variation that is associated with the long term polar motions such as the wobble and annual variation causes deformation of the Earth (Desai 2002). These deformations are oft the pole tide.…”