Quasi-stationary sea surface topography estimation by the multiple input/output method

Multiple input/multiple output system theory (MIMOST) is briefly presented, and the application of the method to the quasi-stationary sea surface topo graphy (QSST) estimation and the filtering of the input observations are di scussed. The repeat character of satellite altimetry missions provides more than one sample of the measured sea surface height (SSH) field, and an app roximation of the input signal and error power spectral densities can be de termined using this successive information. A case study in the Labrador Se a is considered using SSHs from ERS1 phases C and G, ERS1-GM, ERS2 phase A and TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetric missions in combination with shipborne. gravi ty anomalies. The time period of the observations in this study is from 199 3 to 1998. Some comparisons between the techniques used for the power spect ral density approximation are carried out and some remarks on the propertie s of the estimated QSST are presented.