The Cruise LGD2308 left Taiwan onboard the ship Legend to measure sea surface heights and detecting oceanic eddies using GNSS for Swot validation (June 23 -July 3, 2023)

The ship LEGEND prior to its departure for the sailing period of June 23 to July 3, 2023 (Credit NYCU)

Trajectory of Cruise LGD2308 overlaid with the Swot KaRin images for June 19 (preliminary data). The ship followed the swaths between June 27 and 29. Prof. Jan, utilizing his ocean dynamic model, has predicted the presence of several oceanic eddies along this route. These eddies will be scanned using oceanic sensors installed on sea gliders deployed onboard the ship. (Credit NYCU)

The GNSS receiver and level gauge used for precise measurements of sea surface heights onboard Legend with an accuracy reaching the centimeter level. The image was taken on June 27, 2023. (Credit NYCU)

In their Adopt a Crossover proposal, Professors Hwang, Chang, and Yu put forth a plan to measure sea surface heights using GNSS technology and level gauges within the coverage areas of Swot pass21 during the validation phase. The opportunity for these measurements arose when Cruise LGD2308 aboard the ship LEGEND was scheduled to sail from Kaohsiung port in Southern Taiwan to Palau between June 23 and July 3, 2023, passing through the swaths of pass21 around June 27, 2023. The principal investigator (PI) for Cruise LGD2308 is Prof. Jan, who also deployed multiple instruments to study oceanic eddies during the cruise.
 

PI of ADAC for Western Pacific ADAC: Prof Cheinway Hwang, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan
Co-PI of ADAC for Western Pacific ADAC: Prof Emmy TY Chang, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taiwan; Daocheng Yu (formerly at NYCU)
PI of Cruise LGD2308: Prof Sen Jan, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taiwan

Adopt-a-crossover dedicated blog: https://www.swot-adac.org/blogs/south-china-sea-and-western-pacific/