Oceans from space
Satellites allow us to see the big picture. Where ships and instruments in the water can give us very detailed information at a particular point, measurements from space let us connect the dots, helping us to understand the processes behind what we observe. Satellite measurements also give us basic information, such as the force exerted by the winds on the ocean, which we need to construct models of the ocean circulation. Most satellite measurements tell us only about the sea surface, but gravity measurements allow us to see how mass is moving in the entire ocean (and elsewhere).
Oceanography from space
Satellites orbiting the Earth provide valuable scientific measurements about our environment. In oceanography, satellites offer a cost-effective way of monitoring the ocean on a global scale and complement measurements taken at sea. Satellite data are used for fundamental scientific research as well as for applications with immediate societal benefits.
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Sea level from space
Using satellites, we can measure sea level over almost the entire ocean. With these measurements, linked to tide-gauge measurements at the coast, we can see how global average sea level is changing. Since 1993, it has been increasing at a rate of about 3 mm per year.
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