Exploring ocean surface currents and waves, from the ESA EE9 Sea surface KInematics Multiscale monitoring (SKIM) Mission

摘要: SKIM is an ESA Earth Explorer-9 candidate mission designed to measure directly and simultaneously, for the first time, directional ocean surface current vector (OSCV) wave spectra. builds on satellite altimetry, including a nadir altimeter beam, spectrometer SWIM CFOSAT. Using rotating beams across 330 km swath, will explore beyond 200 - 15 days resolution of currents that can be diagnosed today from sea level at mid latitudes. In particular fill two important blind spots: in tropics marginal ice zone, expand effective space time constellation by factor 2 or more. The novel direct measurement top meters produce maps equatorial upwellings are critical understanding forecasting heat budget equator with far-reaching weather climate consequences, example African monsoon. OSCV also allow monitoring highly dynamic edge. Adding this new fundamental variable Observation capability together high fidelity measurements spectra scientists address wide range questions, including: How waves influence upper mixing large scale circulation? do dynamics edge Arctic Antarctic? What roles eddies, wind-driven flows setting concentration marine litter shaping ecosystems? This presentation explain how used these scientific challenges using examples instrument simulator outputs.