Sea Surface Height Monthly Standard Variability in the Australian Region

Monthly standard deviation of sea surface height (in metres) estimated on a 0.2 x 0.2 degree grid for the region: 90E-180E, 60S-0. Data used in making the estimates are the gridded maps of height for 1993-2001 based on tide gauge and altimeter observations. The gridded fields are created using optimal interpolation and the grid scale is smaller than the largest gaps between satellite tracks so fine scale O(50km) height gradients in the ocean are often missed. For most of the time data were only available from two satellites and at times only one.