ECCO Supports NASA Science
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A huge strength of ECCO is its global, multi-decadal, ocean circulation and sea-ice estimate, which is not only consistent with a diversity of observational measurements but also with physical model equations. This allows our solutions to be used in a wide range of research and exploration efforts including those spearheaded by NASA. Check out the StoryMaps below to learn more about some exciting applications of ECCO.
Evolution in Resolution? ECCO to the Rescue
The surface features detected by NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission reveal unprecedented details about how our changing ocean. Although exciting to explore, such high-resolution datasets can be challenging to decipher ... even for experienced researchers. ECCO is helping derive the best possible science by providing simulated "pre-SWOT" data sets to the ocean sciences community.
Life & Water Level
ECCO has been instrumental in providing insight into the details of ocean data collected by NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT). But that’s not the only sensational synergy between ECCO and recent missions! Data from the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission will help evaluate and adjust computer models that merge ECCO’s physics with marine biology and ocean chemistry.
The Saga of Sargassum
Starting in 2011, some beaches around the globe began being swamped by a seaweed that was previously considered to be benign. What was the tipping point? Scientists used ECCO to point to a new possible source of Sargassum originating outside the Sargasso Sea. Research on this potential nuisance seaweed will "go hyperspectral" with NASA's next generation Ocean Color Instrument on the PACE satellite.
Salinity and Stratification at the Sea Ice Edge
Sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean has declined dramatically over the past decades. But is it possible to use summer salinity values to predict when sea ice will advance in autumn? That's the idea behind NASA's Salinity and Stratification at the Sea Ice Edge (SASSIE) campaign. To help test this hypothesis, ECCO simulations have been configured with various horizontal grid spacings and vertical resolutions.