The satellite radar altimetry record of sea level has now surpassed 30 years in length. These observations have greatly improved our knowledge of the open ocean and are now an essential component of many operational marine systems and climate studies. But the use of altimetry close to the coast remains a challenge from both a technical and scientific point of view. Here, we take advantage of the recent availability of many new...

The mean dynamic topography (MDT) is a key reference surface for altimetry. It is needed for the calculation of the ocean absolute dynamic topography, and under the geostrophic approximation, the estimation of surface currents. CNES-CLS mean dynamic topography (MDT) solutions are calculated by merging information from altimeter data, GRACE, and GOCE gravity field and oceanographic in situ measurements (drifting buoy velocities...

Since the mid-1990s, a series of FES (finite element solution) global ocean tidal atlases has been produced and released with the primary objective to provide altimetry missions with tidal de-aliasing correction at the best possible accuracy. We describe the underlying hydrodynamic and data assimilation design and accuracy assessments for the latest FES2014 release (finalized in early 2016), especially for the altimetry de-ali...