Sea level monitoring at tide gauges plays an important role in geodesy, geodynamics research and oceanography. It provides data for referencing vertical datum, for modelling geoid in coastal regions, for determination of vertical land movements and for studying ocean dynamics. Investigation of Baltic Sea level variations ·is considered an important component of geodynamics research in Central and Northern Europe. The analysis of tide gauge records from Baltic sites was conducted in the framework of the project on a cm geoid in Poland. Those records showed strong common features that were further used for deriving the model of Baltic Sea level variations. High level of correlations of the model with individual site data proved its adequacy. Regional characteristics of the model were investigated using regression and correlation analysis. It was shown that the model represents very well both global and regional features of Baltic Sea level variations. The use of the model as reference to investigate local features of tide gauge records that reflect site-specific variations of sea level was also discussed. Spectral analysis of the model of Baltic Sea level variations indicates the existence of distinguished term of Chandler period besides two major terms of annual and semi-annual periods. The existence of polar motion component in Baltic Sea level variations was investigated using correlation analysis. Also the land vertical movement derived from Baltic tide gauge data was determined and compared with literature data.

We describe surface currents in the Porsanger fjord (Porsangerfjorden) located in the European Arctic in the vicinity of the Barents Sea. Our analysis is based on surface current data collected in the summer of 2014 using High Frequency (WERA, Helzel Messtechnik GmbH) radar system. One of our objectives was to separate out the tidal from the nontidal components of the currents and to determine the most important tidal constituents. Tides in the Porsanger fjord are substantial, with tidal range on the order of about 3 m. Tidal analysis attributes to tides about 99% of variance in sea level time series recorded in Honningsvaag. The most important tidal component in sea level data is the M2 component, with amplitude of ∼90 cm. The S2 and N2 constituents (amplitude of ∼20 cm) also play a significant role in the semidiurnal sea level oscillations. The most important diurnal component is K1 with amplitude of about 8 cm. The most important tidal component in analyzed surface currents records is the M2 component. The second most important component is the S2. Our results indicate that in contrast to sea level, only about 10-30% of variance in surface currents can be attributed to tidal currents. This means that about 70-90% of variance is due to wind-induced and geostrophic currents.

One of the fundamental problems of modern geodesy is precise de fi nition of the gravitational fi eld and its changes in time. This is essential in positioning and navigation, geophysics, geodynamics, oceanography and other sciences related to the climate and Earth’s environment. One of the major sources of gravity data is satellite altimetry that provides gravity data with almost 75% surface of the Earth. Satellite altimetry also provides data to study local, regional and global geophysical processes, the geoid model in the areas of oceans and seas. This technique can be successfully used to study the ocean mean dynamic topography. The results of the investigations and possible products of altimetry will provide a good material for the GGOS (Global Geodetic Observing System) and institutions of IAS (International Altimetry Service). This paper presents the achievements in satellite altimetry in all the above disciplines obtained in the last years. First very shorly basic concept of satellite altimetry is given. In order to obtain the highest accuracy on range measurements over the ocean improved of altimetry waveforms performed on the ground is described. Next, signi fi cant improvements of sea and ocean gravity anomalies models developed presently is shown. Study of sea level and its extremes examined, around European and Australian coasts using tide gauges data and satellite altimetry measurements were described. Then investigations of the phenomenon of the ocean tides, calibration of altimeters, studies of rivers and ice-sheets in the last years are given.