This dataset of Harmonic Constants for Baroclinic Tide Prediction was produced by Edward Zaron (Oregon State University) and Shane Elipot (University of Miami). It provides sea surface height and ocean surface currents associated with the predictable astronomical tide at the M2, S2, N2, K1, and O1 frequencies. The tidal harmonic constants, in-phase and quadrature with respect to the equilibrium potential, are provided on a latitude/longitude at 1/20-deg resolution. Using the software available at the Github repository, the dataset can be used to predict baroclinic tidal sea surface height and surface ocean currents at arbitrary time and location throughout the world oceans.
The harmonic constants were estimated within the time period from 1993 to 2021 and incorporate roughly 30 years of multi-satellite altimeter data and 20 years of data from drifting buoys. The observations were combined with a kinematic wave model and the internal wave polarization relations to prepare uniformly gridded estimates from the sparse and irregular data sampling. These files may be used by the altimeter community to compute corrections intended to remove baroclinic tidal variability from sea level anomaly observations. Researchers with an interest in ocean surface currents may also use these data to predict baroclinic tidal surface currents. Such information may be used to plan observational campaigns or optimize the design of future surface current mapping satellite missions.
This dataset is funded by NASA SWOT Science Team award #80NSSC21K0346 and NSF Physical Oceanography Program award #1850961. The software to make baroclinic tidal calculations using this dataset is regularly updated at the provided Github link, and an archived snapshot of the software is also provided in the documentation. The harmonic constants and prediction software may be updated every few years as additional data for mapping the tides becomes available.