All important aspects of the circulation and its transport properties can be studied subsequently from the estimated ocean state and its uncertainty. This report presents the first results of a global estimation system for the time-evolving, absolute general circulation of the ocean. The forward component of the system is the general circulation model developed by Marshall et al. The purpose of this preliminary work was to gain experience with the problem of combining a GCM with global and time-varying data sets to ensure there were no major obstacles to a more definitive calculation. The present focus is on the evolving global circulation as it emerges from altimetric measurements.
Final results differ from either the model or the data alone.
Note the pronounced differences in the adjustment of the freshwater fluxes, which are largest in the tropical oceans. Changes of similar amplitudes occur in all remaining repeat cycles. Overall, the amplitudes of changes in the external forcing fields are consistent with accepted uncertainties in the meteorological analyses. Figure 9 shows monthly mean fields of surface elevation and velocity at 120 m for October 1993. Apart from the missing eddy variability, major elements of the general circulation are present in both fields.