Three cases studies are planned, in three pilot sites with different dynamics. Between the three of them, they are subject in particular to the influence (transition area) or not of rivers and estuaries and/or to strong tides:
The first scientific case is located in the complex coastal area in the Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands (Pilot site 1). This region is strongly driven by ocean instabilities and exchange between ocean interior and the coastal zone, upwelling/downwelling, with no river nor estuary. To investigate these processes, analysis will utilize derived SAR S1 velocities from WP3400, L3 and L4 SSH products that include SWOT, in particular the one produced in WP3200, other remote-sensed surface variables, namely SST from Sentinel-3 SLSTR and Chl-a from Sentinel-3 OLCI and numerical coastal model.
The second scientific case is in the North Sea – Wadden Sea transition zone (Pilot site 2). This region is one of the sites identified in the LandSeaLot HE projects and has been chosen consequently. The Wadden Sea is a coastal region strongly influenced by ocean tides, which play a significant role on sea level variability, particularly compound flooding events, and biogeochemical processes. The Elbe estuaries also influences the ocean dynamics. Based on SWOT and FFSAR observations, the study will cover both the tides and the SWH characterization. An additional study will evaluate the propagation extent of ocean tides within the Elbe River. The inundation of the tides in river systems is important for flood predictions and mitigations and understanding of biogeochemical processes.
The third scientific case will be in Chile Arauco Gulf and Biobio estuary (Pilot site 3). Here, the mesoscale to submesoscale circulation pattern and its variability will be analysed, instrumental error levels (KarRIn, SAR) will be diagnosed, the impact of an imperfect MSS model will be evaluated. Altimetry SAR; KaRIn, tide gauges, sea surface ocean colour and temperature from satellites will help to answer these scientific questions.