Satellite altimetric data have been widely used for monitoring global/regional sea level changes. I will present an overview of my efforts in investigating sea level variations using satellite altimetric data. In order to study the residual sea level on multi-time scales, the ocean tide signal, which occupies more than 70% of the total sea level variations, has to be removed from the satellite altimetry-measured sea surface height. I developed a global ocean tide model with tide estimation improved in coastal regions and high latitudes. Furthermore, I will present the capability of satellite altimetric data in capturing storm surges in coastal regions. Especially, the global annual sea level cycle variations are investigated based on satellite altimetric data, tide gauge data and Ocean General Circulation Models ouputs. The results estimated from the new reprocessed satellite altimetric data in the Arctic Ocean are also presented.

Dr. Yongcun Chen joined MARI/CCPO at ODU as a post-doctoral research associate in September 2014. He holds a Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the Ocean University of China. Before relocating to Norfolk, he worked on regional and global sea level changes using combined satellite altimetric data, tide gauge data and Ocean General Circulation Models at the Technical University of Denmark. He reprocessed satellite altimetric data from the Arctic Ocean to study regional sea level changes and developed a global ocean tide model to improve the accuracy of tides in shallow waters and high latitudes. Dr. Cheng's research also includes using remote sensing images and Lagrangian transport models to detect and simulate oil spill trajectories in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea and the China Bohai Sea.

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