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Satellite altimetry has been providing a continuous record of ocean measurements with numerous applications across the entire range of ocean sciences. A reference orbit has been used since 1992 with TOPEX/Poseidon, which was repeated in the Jason missions, and in the newly launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (in November 2020) to continually monitor the trends of sea level rise and other properties of the sea surface. These multidecadal missions have evolved alongside major technological advances, whose measurements are unified into a single data record owing to continuous intercalibration and validation efforts. However, the new Sentinel-6 provides synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing, which improves the along-track resolution of conventional altimeters from a few kilometres (e.g., for Jason-3) to about 300 m. This means a major leap in sampling towards higher frequencies of the ocean spectrum, which inevitably means reconciling the assumption of a uniform Brown surface between the footprints of the larger kilometre-scale conventional altimetry and those of the finer-scale SAR altimetry. To explore this issue, this study uses the vantage point of the Sentinel-6/Jason-3 tandem phase to compare simultaneous sea surface signatures of large-scale Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) between SAR and conventional altimetry. These waves can modulate the sea surface into arrayed sections of increased and decreased roughness with horizontal scales up to 10 km, which inflict sharp transitions between increased and decreased backscatter in the radar altimeters. It is found that Sentinel-6 can provide more detailed structures of ISWs in standard level-2 products, when compared with those from the conventional Jason-3 (similarly to previous results reported from the SAR altimeter from Sentinel-3). However, a new and striking feature is found when comparing the radar backscatter between Sentinel-6 and Jason-3, which are in opposite phases in the ISWs. These intriguing results are discussed in light of the intrinsically different acquisition geometries of SAR and conventional altimeters as well as possible implications thereof.

We address surface wave breaking caused by oceanic Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) and how ISWs are manifested in the SAR altimeter onboard Sentinel-3A and -3B satellites by means of their effects in Significant Wave Height (SWH). Two different regions of the ocean are selected, namely the tropical Atlantic Ocean off the Amazon shelf and the Banda Sea in the Indian Ocean, where there are scenes of Sentinel-3 OLCI acquired simultaneously with an along-track SAR mode altimeter, which include signatures of large amplitude ISWs. New data of unfocused SAR (UF-SAR 20 Hz) and fully focused SAR (FF-SAR 160 Hz) modes are analyzed, which are retracked in full range and over a reduced range of bins (truncation carried out dynamically ten gates away from the estimated epoch position). At first order, in scales of 1–3 km, a strong decrease in the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) over the rough part of the ISWs is observed followed by a small increase in the smooth part relative to the unperturbed ocean background. A second order ISW signature, in scales of 20 km, is noted: the SWH is attenuated after the passage of an ISW, considering length scales of about 10 km before and after the ISW crest. The SWH signatures are unique in showing that the surface wave energy does not return to its unperturbed level after the passage of an ISW, admittedly because intense meter-scale wave breaking results in surface wave energy dissipation. Furthermore, Sentinel-2 MSI images are analyzed and provide insights into this same phenomenon: white-capping resulting in a radiance increase at all (visible) wavelengths. Modulation of breaking waves owing to ISWs is demonstrated by estimates of the fraction of breaking waves in the presence of internal waves.

Analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images in L-band of short-period internal waves (IWs), and classification of their radar signatures is presented by means of a polarimetric data set from ALOS-PALSAR mission. We choose the polarimetric feature named standard deviation(std) of the co-polarized phase difference (CPD) to identify fundamental differences in SAR signatures of internal waves, and divided them into three different classes, according to their backscattered modulation depths and morphology as well as the std CPD, namely: double-signed, single-negative, and single-positive signatures, for IW normalized image transects that display, respectively, signatures in the form of bright/dark, dark, and bright bands that correspond to positive/negative, negative, or positive variations of radar backscatter. These radar power types of signatures have a counterpart in the std CPD normalized transects, and in this paper we discuss those correlations and decorrelations. We focus in the single-negative type of signature, that is dark bands on gray background, and show that the std CPD is greatly enhanced over the troughs and rear slopes of those IWs. It is suggested that such behavior is consistent with the presence of surface slicks owing to enhanced surfactant concentration. Furthermore, those single-negative SAR signatures appear at locations where and when biological productivity is enhanced. It is found that the modulation depths associated to the std CPD is higher than the one associated to the HH-polarized radar backscatter for single-negative signatures propagating in the range direction, while the reverse occurs for the other types of signatures.

The Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean has been a classical study region for Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) for several decades. Papers such as Osborne and Burch (1980) usually describe mode-1 packets of ISWs propagating eastwards, separated by distances of around 100 km. In this paper, we report on shorter period solitary-like waves that are consistent with a mode-2 vertical structure, which are observed along the Ten Degree Channel, and propagate side-by-side the usual large mode-1 solitary wave packets. The mode-2 waves are identified in TerraSAR-X images because of their distinct surface signatures, which are reversed when compared to those that are typical of mode-1 ISWs in the ocean. These newly observed regularly-spaced packets of ISW-like waves are characterized by average separations of roughly 30 km, which are far from the nominal mode-1 or even the mode-2 internal tidal wavelengths. On some occasions, five consecutive and regularly spaced mode-2 ISW-like wave envelopes were observed simultaneously in the same TerraSAR-X image. This fact points to a tidal generation mechanism somewhere in the west shallow ridges, south of the Nicobar Islands. Furthermore, it implies that unusually long-lived mode-2 waves can be found throughout the majority of the fortnightly tidal cycle. Ray tracing techniques are used to identify internal tidal beams as a possible explanation for the generation of the mode-2 solitary-like waves when the internal tidal beam interacts with the ocean pycnocline. Linear theory suggests that resonant coupling with long internal waves of higher-mode could explain the longevity of the mode-2 waves, which propagate for more than 100 km. Owing to their small-scale dimensions, the mode-2 waves may have been overlooked in previous remote sensing images. The enhanced radiometric resolution of the TerraSAR-X, alongside its wide coverage and detailed spatial resolutions, make it an ideal observational tool for the present study.

It is demonstrated that the synthetic aperture radar altimeter (SRAL) on board of the Sentinel-3A can detect short-period internal solitary waves (ISWs) with scales of the order of a kilometer. A variety of signatures owing to the surface manifestations of the ISWs are apparent in the SRAL Level-2 products over the ocean. These signatures are identified in several geophysical parameters, such as radar backscatter ( σ 0 ) and sea level anomaly (SLA). Radar backscatter is the primary parameter in which ISWs can be identified owing to the measurable sea surface roughness perturbations in the along-track direction resulting from the sharpened SRAL footprint. The SRAL footprint is sufficiently small (300 m in the along-track direction) to capture radar power fluctuations over successive wave crests and troughs, which produce rough and slick surface patterns arrayed in parallel bands with scales of a few kilometers along-track. Furthermore, it was possible to calculate the mean square slope ( s 2 ¯ ) for the dual-band (Ku and C bands) altimeter of Sentinel-3, which made the ISW signatures unambiguously identified because of the large s 2 ¯ variations in exact synergy with ocean and land color instrument (OLCI) images. Hence, the detection method is validated in cloud-free sun glint OLCI images. It is shown that both σ 0 and SLA yield realistic estimates for routine observation of ISWs with the SRAL. The detection method that is used relies on the parameter s 2 ¯ which is calculated from σ 0 . This is a significant improvement from previous observations recently reported for conventional pulse-limited altimeters (Jason-2). An algorithm is developed to be used in any ocean region. Wavelets were applied for a first analysis of the s 2 ¯ variations because ISWs can be readily identified in high-frequency signals. Other geophysical parameters such as SLA were used to exclude phenomena that are unlikely to be ISWs.

This paper analyzes over 500 sets of internal waves in the Strait of Georgia (British Columbia, Canada) based on a large number of satellite remote sensing images. The spatial and temporal distribution of internal waves in the central region of the strait are discussed via statistical analysis. Possible generation origins of the observed internal waves are divided into three categories based on their different propagation directions and geographical locations: (1) the interaction between the narrow channels to the south of the Strait and the tidal currents, leading to the formation of mainly eastward and northward propagating waves; (2) the interaction between the tidal currents and the topography near Point Roberts, resulting in mainly westward propagating waves; (3) excitation by river plume, mainly near Fraser River mouth, leading to the formation of mainly westward waves along the direction of the river plume. The relation between the occurrence of internal waves in remote sensing images and wind or tide level is also discussed. It is found that most of the observed internal waves occur at low tides. However, due to the influence of the river, the eastward propagating internal waves near the river mouth seldom occur at the lowest tide. Also, internal waves are captured more easily by remote sensing images in summer due to the lower wind speed than winter and therefore the seasonal distribution of internal waves in remote sensing images may not be able to completely represent the real situation in the study area. Finally, combining the in situ measured data and model output data, the Benjamin-Ono equation is found to satisfyingly simulate the characteristic parameters of the studied internal waves.

It is well known that internal waves (IWs) of tidal frequency (i.e., internal tides) are successfully detected in sea surface height (SSH) by satellite altimetry. Shorter period internal solitary waves (ISWs), whose periods (and spatial scales) are an order of magnitude smaller than tidal internal waves, have been generally assumed too small to be detected with conventional altimeters. This is because conventional (pulse-limited) radar altimeter footprints are somewhat larger than or of similar size, at best, as the typical wavelengths of the ISWs. Here we demonstrate that the synthetic aperture radar altimeter (SRAL) on board the Sentinel-3A can detect short-period ISWs. A variety of signatures owing to the surface manifestations of the ISWs are apparent in the SRAL Level-2 products over the ocean. These signatures are identified in several geophysical parameters, such as radar backscatter (sigma0), sea level anomaly (SLA), and significant wave height (SWH). Radar backscatter is the primary parameter in which ISWs can be identified owing to the measurable sea surface roughness perturbations in the along-track sharpened SRAL footprint. The SRAL footprint is sufficiently small to capture radar power fluctuations over successive wave crests and troughs, which produce rough and slick surface patterns arrayed in parallel bands with scales of a few kilometers. The ISW signatures are unambiguously identified in the SRAL because of the exact synergy with OLCI (Ocean Land Colour Imager) images, which in cloud-free conditions allow clear identification of the ISWs in the sunglint OLCI images. We show that both sigma0 and SLA yield realistic estimates for routine observation of ISWs with the SRAL, which is a significant improvement from previous observations recently reported for conventional pulse-limited altimeters (Jason-2). Several case studies of ISW signatures are interpreted in light of our knowledge of radar backscatter in the internal wave field. An analysis is presented for the tropical Atlantic Ocean off the Amazon shelf to infer the frequency of the phenomena, being consistent with previous satellite observations in the study region.