This animation illustrates the evolution of the spatial resolution in the global gridded SSH maps using the ECCO 1/12deg simulation daily SSH maps. Particularly, the animation visualizes the SSH maps at spatial resolutions ranging from 3 to 2 to 1 degree to 15 km (the expected resolution of SWOT observations). Blue patterns show regions of low sea surface height, while the red patterns show regions of high sea surface height. Small scale features such as fronts, meanders and eddies in the Gulf Stream, California Current, or Agulhas Current regions that are not captured at resolutions higher than 1 degree become visible in the 15km resolution maps. It clearly illustrates the dramatic increase in observability of smallscale ocean circulation. The data can be accessed from the PO.DAAC Portal at https://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/dataset/S... (DOI: 10.5067/KARIN2MES1)

Animation Credit: Created by Shigeru Suzuki