The use of Topex-Poseidon, ERS-1 and ERS-2 altimeters to detect meddies

摘要

The Mediterranean water outflow, not only alters the thermohaline field of the Atlantic, but also plays an important role as a carrier of dissolved matter and living organisms fro mthe Mediterranean. Such action is reinforced by the presence of submesoscale eddies (MEDDIES) which detach fro mthe main streams. The use of remote sneisng techniques n the study of MEDDIES, their detection and tracking on the sea surface, could be considered as a matter of relevant interest to improve our knowledge about the mechanisms that explain their origin and evolution. This communication presents the reutls that we have obtianed in the detection of MEDDIES off the portuguese coast, using both, the altimeter of Topex-Poseidon and ERS satellites