The fractal properties of sea surface topography derived from TOPEX/POSEIDON (1992-1996)

Fractal dimension with various algorithms has increasing applications in ch aracterizing both linear and areal features. In this study, the variabiliti es of sea surface topography derived from TOPEX/POSEIDON are studied. The v ariogram method is applied to compute fractal dimensions for each scene. Cu mulatively, 29 scenes taken from 1992, 111 scenes taken from 1993, 110 scen es from 1994, 98 scenes taken from 1995 and 38 scenes taken from 1996 are a nalyzed. The spatial resolution of each scene is two degrees along both lon gitudinal and latitudinal directions. The annual averages of fractal dimens ions are 2.528, 2.527, 2.523, 2.523 and 2.524 for 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 an d 1996, respectively. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.