Abstract: The space geodetic techniques of ocean altimetry and
gravimetry have seen broad and successful applications in Earth
sciences. The two independent types of observations are interconnected
physically and to be applied synergistically for global ocean studies:
To a very good approximation the average altimetric ocean topography is
the same as the static geoid of the Earth. The small difference between
them, the dynamic height topography, is the driving force as well as a
consequence of the large-scale geostrophic flow of the ocean, including
the well-known ocean currents. We will show new and interesting results
derived from them in examples of Kuroshio, the Gulf Stream, and the
Antarctica Circum-polar Current and their variabilities.