SWOT AdAC

The SWOT Adopt-A-Crossover Consortium was an initiative of the SWOT Science Team endorsed by CLIVAR that assisted oceanographic in situ experiments during SWOT satellite fast-sampling phase and assured that SWOT data were interpreted and exploited in the best possible way. Conceived as a major new tool for climate studies, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission launched December 16th 2022. SWOT sea surface height measurements can help retrieve the dynamics of the upper ocean at an unprecedented O(10km) resolution. SWOT surface maps have a resolution roughly one order of magnitude finer than what was available with conventional satellite altimetry. The SWOT AdAC Consortium was led by a Steering Group mostly from the SWOT Science Team and focused on ocean areas where the SWOT ascending and descending tracks crossed during the fast sampling phase, providing higher temporal resolution: the crossovers. The AdAC Consortium provided to anybody interested in ocean finescale experiments a direct link with the SWOT Science Team and acted as a forum for sharing information on how to interpret future SWOT data and for designing SWOT-compliant experimental protocols. Members of the Consortium also had access to experimental, multisatellite, high resolution products that NASA and CNES have developed for matching the needs of experimental studies at SWOT scales. The Consortium was also the place to discuss and promote conference special sessions, journal special issues, and collaborations on ocean finescale experiments and new technologies. Now that the SWOT Fast Sampling Phase is over, these support activities are streamlined by the CTOH into the Adaptive Campaigns service.