Dynamically balanced global mean sea level

The global decade-mean sea level at mesoscale resolution is obtained by integrating the horizontal momentum equation in its simplest form describing the balance in the upper ocean between acceleration, Coriolis force, pressure gradient and Ekman force. The components are estimated using drifter data, satellite altimetry and various wind products. The results are compared (and in a good agreement) with dynamic height calculated from historical hydrographic data, deep circulation observed with the floats and recent satellite (GRACE) products. Sources of the dynamical imbalance are considered including errors in the data and their preprocessing, accuracy of parameterizations and higher order terms in the momentum equation.