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Harnessing ocean kinetic energy has emerged as a promising renewable energy solution in recent years. However, identifying optimal locations for extracting this energy remains a significant challenge. This study presents a novel scheme to estimate the total surface current (TSC) as permanent surface current by integrating geodetic data and in-situ measurements. The TSC is typically a combination of the geostrophic current, derived from dynamic topography, and the Ekman current. We utilize NOAA's Ekman current data to complement the geostrophic current and obtain the TSC. To further enhance the accuracy of the TSC estimates, we employ a 3DVAR data assimilation method, incorporating local current meter observations. The results are verified against two control current meter stations. The data-assimilation process resulted in an improvement of 4 to 15 cm/s in the precision of calculated TSC. Using the assimilated TSC data, we then assess the kinetic energy potential and identify six regions with the most significant promise for marine kinetic energy extraction. This innovative approach can assist researchers and policymakers in targeting the most suitable locations for harnessing renewable ocean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the collocation method accompanied with variance component estimation is used for least square adjustment of crossover observations in order to determine the effects of radial errors on the observations of satellite altimetry. The collocation is used for time series analysis of sea surface height observations both for predicting the possible missing observations in each cycle, and for approximating the observation of each cycle at crossover points. In addition, use is made of the variance component estimation to quantify the noise variance of observations and improve the least square evaluation of radial errors. For analysis of radial errors, two different approaches are followed, in the first approach, the radial errors are assumed to behave like a series of trigonometric function, the coefficients of which are unknowns which should be determined from observations. In the second approach, the values of radial errors, for ascending and descending passes are determined. Our results show the efficiency of collocation algorithm for highly accurate time series analysis of altimetry observations and moreover, they reveal the effectiveness of variance component estimation for true noise specification of observations which can significantly improve the results of least square adjustment. The outcome of this study can be used to calibration of altimeters. The numerical results indicate that the mean range biases of Topex/Poseidon, Jason 1-2 and ENVISAT in the six single and dual crossover points using the first and the second methods are about 0, 84, 33, 204 and 0, 98, 41, 286 mm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]