TOPEX/Poseidon On-line Tutorial

How much these Factors Contribute to Sea Surface Height

• Ocean eddies - up to about 25 centimeters (10 inches)
• Temperature of the upper ocean water - up to about 35 centimeters (13 inches), similar to the contribution from ocean eddies
• Tides in the deep ocean - up to 1 meter (3 feet)
• Ocean currents or ocean circulation - about 2 meters (6 feet)
• Gravity - up to 150 meters! (almost 500 feet!)