D. E. Alsdorf, E. Rodríguez, and D. P. Lettenmaier, Measuring surface water from space, Reviews of Geophysics, vol.338, issue.5, pp.10-1029, 2007.
DOI : 10.1029/2006RG000197

A. Arakawa and V. R. Lamb, Computational Design of the Basic Dynamical Processes of the UCLA General Circulation Model, Methods in Computional Physics, vol.17, pp.174-267, 1977.
DOI : 10.1016/B978-0-12-460817-7.50009-4

I. Ambar, A. F. Fiuza, T. J. Boyd, and R. Frouin, Observation of a warm oceanic current flowing northward along the coasts of Portugal and Spain during, EOS Trans, vol.67, p.1054, 1983.

M. Anzenhofer, C. K. Shum, and M. Rentsh, Coastal altimetry and applications, 1999.

M. Arhan, The North Atlantic Current and Subarctic Intermediate Water, Journal of Marine Research, vol.48, issue.1, pp.109-144, 1990.
DOI : 10.1357/002224090784984605

M. Arhan, A. Colin-de-verdière, and L. Mémery, The Eastern Boundary of the Subtropical North Atlantic, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.24, issue.6, pp.1295-1316, 1994.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1994)024<1295:TEBOTS>2.0.CO;2
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00276389

F. Auclair, S. Casitas, and P. Marsaleix, Application of an Inverse Method to Coastal Modeling, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, vol.17, issue.10, pp.10-1368, 2000.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0426(2000)017<1368:AOAIMT>2.0.CO;2

F. Auclair, P. Marsaleix, and P. Mey, Space-time structure and dynamics of the forecast error in a coastal circulation model of the Gulf of Lions, Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans, vol.36, issue.4, pp.309-346, 2003.
DOI : 10.1016/S0377-0265(02)00068-4
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00136965

F. Auclair, C. Estournel, P. Marsaleix, and I. Pairaud, On coastal ocean embedded modeling, Geophysical Research Letters, vol.46, issue.1, p.14602, 2006.
DOI : 10.1029/2006GL026099
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00138667

P. Bardey, P. Garnesson, G. Moussu, and L. Wald, Joint analysis of temperature and ocean colour satellite images for mesoscale activities in the Gulf of Biscay, International Journal of Remote Sensing, vol.20, issue.7, pp.1329-1341, 1999.
DOI : 10.1080/014311699212768

N. Barth and C. Wunsch, Oceanographic Experiment Design by Simulated Annealing, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.20, issue.9, pp.1249-1263, 1990.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1990)020<1249:OEDBSA>2.0.CO;2

N. Barth, Oceanographic Experiment Design II: Genetic Algorithms, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, vol.9, issue.4, pp.434-443, 1991.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0426(1992)009<0434:OEDIGA>2.0.CO;2

A. F. Bennett, Array design by inverse methods, Progress in Oceanography, vol.15, issue.2, pp.129-151, 1985.
DOI : 10.1016/0079-6611(85)90033-3

A. F. Bennett, Inverse methods for assessing ship-of-opportunity networks and estimating circulation and winds from tropical expendable bathythermograph data, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.325, issue.C9, pp.111-127, 1990.
DOI : 10.1029/JC095iC09p16111

A. F. Bennett, B. S. Chua, and L. M. Leslie, Generalized inversion of a global numerical weather prediction model, II: Analysis and implementation, Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, vol.7, issue.3-4, pp.129-140, 1997.
DOI : 10.1007/BF01029698

A. F. Blumberg and G. L. Mellor, A description of a three-dimensional coastal ocean circulation model, Three-Dimensional Coastal Ocean Models, pp.1-16, 1987.
DOI : 10.1029/CO004p0001

J. Bouffard, Amélioration de l'altimétrie côtière appliquée à l'étude de la circulation dans la partie nord du bassin occidental méditerranéen, Thèse de doctorat, p.pp, 2007.

. Cipollini, Comparison of ocean dynamics with a regional circulation model and improved altimetry in the North-western Mediterranean, Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci, vol.19, pp.117-133, 2008.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00434391

J. Bouffard, S. Vignudelli, P. Cipollini, and Y. Menard, Exploiting the potential of an improved multimission altimetric data set over the coastal ocean, Geophysical Research Letters, vol.32, issue.10, pp.10-1029, 2008.
DOI : 10.1029/2008GL033488
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00409288

P. Bougeault and P. Lacarrère, Parameterization of Orography-Induced Turbulence in a Mesobeta--Scale Model, Monthly Weather Review, vol.117, issue.8, pp.1872-1890, 1989.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<1872:POOITI>2.0.CO;2

A. Borja, A. Uriarte, V. Valencia, L. Motos, and A. Uriarte, Relatioships between anchovy (Enragraulis encrasicolus L) recruitment and the environment in the Bay of Biscay, pp.179-192, 1996.

G. Broquet, P. Brasseur, D. Rozier, J. M. Brankart, and J. Verron, stimation of model errors generated by atmospheric forcings for ocean data assimilation: experiments in a regional, 2007.

L. Carrère and F. Lyard, Modeling the barotropic response of the global ocean to atmospheric wind and pressure forcing - comparisons with observations, Geophysical Research Letters, vol.27, issue.9, pp.127510-1029, 2003.
DOI : 10.1029/2002GL016473

J. Charney, M. Halem, and R. Jastrow, Use of Incomplete Historical Data to Infer the Present State of the Atmosphere, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, vol.26, issue.5, p.1162, 1969.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0469(1969)026<1160:UOIHDT>2.0.CO;2

D. B. Chelton, R. A. Deszoeke, M. G. Schlax, K. E. Naggar, and N. Siwertz, Geographical Variability of the First Baroclinic Rossby Radius of Deformation, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.28, issue.3, pp.433-460, 1998.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1998)028<0433:GVOTFB>2.0.CO;2

D. Chelton, 2001: Overview of the Report of the High-Resolution Ocean Topography Science Working Group Meeting

H. S. Coelho, R. R. Neves, P. C. Leitão, H. Martins, and A. P. Santos, The slope current along the western European margin: a numerical investigation, Bol. Inst. Esp. Oceanogr, vol.15, pp.1-4, 1999.

D. Mey and P. , The impact of high-resolution altimetry on mesoscale and coastal data assimilation, Report, High-Resolution Ocean Topography Science, NASA/JPL report, pp.2001-2005, 2001.

V. Echevin and P. Mey, Horizontal and Vertical Structure of the Representer Functions for Sea Surface Measurements in a Coastal Circulation Model, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.30, issue.10, pp.2627-2635, 2000.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(2000)030<2627:HAVSOT>2.0.CO;2

V. Enjolras, P. Vincent, J. Souyris, and A. Cazenave, Performances Study of Interferometric Radar Altimeters: from the Instrument to the Global Mission Definition, The Rhone river plume in unsteady conditions : numerical and experimental results, 2001.
DOI : 10.3390/s6030164
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00409126

C. Estournel, F. Auclair, M. Lux, C. Nguyen, and P. Marsaleix, "Scale oriented" embedded modeling of the North-Western Mediterranean in the frame of MFSTEP, Ocean Science Discussions, vol.4, issue.1, pp.145-187, 2007.
DOI : 10.5194/osd-4-145-2007
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00196626

G. Evensen, Sequential data assimilation with a nonlinear quasi-geostrophic model using Monte Carlo methods to forecast error statistics, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.109, issue.Part 4, pp.143-10162, 1994.
DOI : 10.1029/94JC00572

G. Evensen, The Ensemble Kalman Filter: Theoretical Formulation and Practical Implementation, Ocean Dynamics, pp.343-367, 2003.

L. Fu and D. B. Chelton, Large-scale ocean circulation and variability, Satellite Altimetry and Earth Sciences, pp.133-169, 2001.

L. Fu, Wide-Swath Altimetric Measurement of Ocean Surface Topography, report Jet Propul. Lab, p.67, 2003.

L. Fu and E. Rodriguez, High-resolution measurement of ocean surface topography by radar interferometry for oceanographic and geophysical applicationsState of the Planet: Frontiers and Challenges, AGU Geophysical Monograph, vol.150, issue.19, pp.209-224, 2004.

R. Frouin, A. F. Fiúza, I. Ambar, and T. J. Boyd, Observations of a poleward surface current off the coasts of Portugal and Spain during winter, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.34, issue.C1, pp.1-679, 1990.
DOI : 10.1029/JC095iC01p00679

C. Garcia-soto, R. D. Pingree, and L. Valdés, Navidad development in the southern Bay of Biscay: Climate change and swoddy structure from remote sensing and in situ measurements, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.6, issue.C8, pp.311810-1029, 2002.
DOI : 10.1029/2001JC001012

P. Gaspar, Y. Gregoris, and J. M. Lefevre, A simple eddy kinetic energy model for simulations of the oceanic vertical mixing: Tests at station Papa and long-term upper ocean study site, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.105, issue.C9, pp.179-193, 1990.
DOI : 10.1029/JC095iC09p16179

C. González-pola, A. Lavín, and M. Vargas-yáñez, Intense warming and salinity modification of intermediate water masses in the southeastern corner of the Bay of Biscay for the period 1992?, J. Geophys. Res, vol.110, pp.502010-1029, 2003.

S. Guinehut, G. Larnicol, and P. ?. Le-traon, Design of an array of profiling floats in the North Atlantic from model simulations, Journal of Marine Systems, vol.35, issue.1-2, pp.1-9, 2002.
DOI : 10.1016/S0924-7963(02)00042-8

E. C. Hackert, R. N. Miller, and A. J. Busalacchi, An optimized design for a moored instrument array in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, vol.6, issue.C4, pp.7491-7510, 1998.
DOI : 10.1029/97JC03206

D. Hinrichsen, Coastal Waters of the World. Trends, Threats, and Strategies, 1998.

F. Hernandez, P. Traon, and R. Morrow, Mapping mesoscale variability of the Azores Current using TOPEX/POSEIDON and ERS 1 altimetry, together with hydrographic and Lagrangian measurements, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.98, issue.11, pp.995-25006, 1995.
DOI : 10.1029/95JC02333

. Huthnance, Slope Currents and ???JEBAR???, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.14, issue.4, pp.795-810, 1984.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1984)014<0795:SCA>2.0.CO;2

A. M. Jegou and P. Lazure, Auelques aspects de la circulation sur le plateau Atlantique, Actas del IV Coloquio Internacional sobre Oceanograf?á del IV Coloquio Internacional sobre Oceanografia del Golfo de Viscaya, pp.99-106, 1995.

G. Jorda, Towards data assimilation in the Catalan Continental Shelf From data analysis to optimization methods, 2005.

C. Koutsikopoulos and L. Cann, Physical processes and hydrological structures related to the Bay of Biscay anchovy, Scientia Marina, vol.60, pp.9-19, 1996.

A. L. Kurapov, J. S. Allen, G. D. Egbert, R. N. Miller, P. M. Kosro et al., Assimilation of moored velocity data in a model of coastal winddriven circulation off Oregon: Multivariate capabilities, J. Geophys. Res, vol.110, pp.10-0810, 1029.

J. Lamouroux, Erreur de prévision d'un modèle océanique barotrope du Golfe de Gascogne en réponse aux incertitudes sur les forçages atmosphériques : caractérisation et utilisation dans un schéma d'assimilation de données à ordre réduit, Thèse de doctorat, 2006.

L. Cann, B. , and R. Pingree, Circulation dans le Golfe de Gascogne: une revue des travaux récents, 1995.

L. Hénaff, M. De-mey, P. Mourre, B. , and P. Traon, Contribution of a wideswath altimeter in a shelf seas assimilation system ? Impact of the satellite roll errors, J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol, 2008.

L. Hénaff, M. De-mey, P. , and P. Marsaleix, Assessment of observational networks with the Representer Matrix Spectra method ? Application to a 3D coastal model of the Bay of Biscay, Ocean Dynamics, 2008.

L. Provost and C. , Ocean tides, Satellite Altimetry and Earth Sciences, 2001.

L. Traon, P. , and F. Ogor, ERS-1/2 orbit improvement using TOPEX/POSEIDON: The 2 cm challenge, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, vol.101, issue.39, pp.8045-8058, 1998.
DOI : 10.1029/97JC01917

L. Traon, P. Y. , and R. Morrow, Ocean currents and eddies, Satellite altimetry and earth sciences, 2001.

A. Lombard, A. Cazenave, P. Traon, and M. Ishii, Contribution of thermal expansion to present-day sea-level change revisited. Global Planet, Change, vol.47, pp.1-16, 2005.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00409121

R. W. Lardner, H. M. Cekirge, and N. Gunay, Numerical solution of the twodimensional tidal equations using the method of characteristics, Comp. Maths. With Appls, vol.10, pp.1065-1080, 1986.

D. R. Lynch and W. G. Gray, A wave equation model for finite element tidal computations, Computers & Fluids, vol.7, issue.3, pp.207-228, 1979.
DOI : 10.1016/0045-7930(79)90037-9

G. Madec, P. Delecluse, M. Imbard, and M. Lévy, OPA 8.1 ocean general circulation model reference manual, IPSL, p.91, 1998.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00154217

P. Marsaleix, F. Auclair, and C. Estournel, Considerations on Open Boundary Conditions for Regional and Coastal Ocean Models, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, vol.23, issue.11, pp.1604-1613, 2006.
DOI : 10.1175/JTECH1930.1
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00138664

P. Marsaleix, F. Auclair, J. W. Floor, M. J. Herrmann, C. Estournel et al., Energy conservation issues in sigma-coordinate free-surface ocean models. Ocean Modelling, pp.61-89, 2008.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00518955

E. Mason, S. Coombs, and P. B. Oliveira, An overview of the literature concerning the oceanography of the Eastern North Atlantic Region, 2007.

M. C. Mccartney and L. D. Talley, The Subpolar Mode Water of the North Atlantic Ocean, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.12, issue.11, pp.1169-1188, 1982.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1982)012<1169:TSMWOT>2.0.CO;2

J. P. Mccreary, P. K. Kundu, and S. Y. Chao, On the dynamics of the California Current system, Journal of Marine Research, vol.45, issue.1, pp.1-32, 1987.
DOI : 10.1357/002224087788400945

P. C. Mcintosh, Systematic Design of Observational Arrays, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.17, issue.7, pp.885-902, 1987.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1987)017<0885:SDOOA>2.0.CO;2

G. L. Mellor, An Equation of State for Numerical Models of Oceans and Estuaries, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, vol.8, issue.4, pp.609-611, 1991.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0426(1991)008<0609:AEOSFN>2.0.CO;2

R. Morrow and P. Mey, Adjoint assimilation of altimetric, surface drifter, and hydrographic data in a quasi-geostrophic model of the Azores Current, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.93, issue.1, pp.7-25026, 1995.
DOI : 10.1029/95JC02315

B. Mourre, Etude de configuration d'une constellation de satellites altimétriques pour l'observation de la dynamique côtière, Thèse de Doctorat, 2004.

B. Mourre, P. De-mey, F. Lyard, and C. L. Provost, Assimilation of sea level data over continental shelves: an ensemble method for the exploration of model errors due to uncertainties in bathymetry, Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans, vol.38, issue.2, pp.93-121, 2004.
DOI : 10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2004.09.001
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00765716

B. Mourre, P. De-mey, Y. Menard, F. Lyard, and C. L. Provost, Relative performance of future altimeter systems and tide gauges in constraining a model of North Sea highfrequency barotropic dynamics, Ocean Dynamics, pp.473-486, 2006.

P. R. Oke, J. S. Allen, R. N. Miller, G. D. Egbert, and P. M. Kosro, Assimilation of surface velocity data into a primitive equation coastal ocean model, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.118, issue.C9, pp.312210-1029, 2002.
DOI : 10.1029/2000JC000511

C. A. Paulson and J. J. Simpson, Irradiance Measurements in the Upper Ocean, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.7, issue.6, pp.952-956, 1977.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1977)007<0952:IMITUO>2.0.CO;2

D. T. Pham, J. Verron, and M. C. Roubaud, A singular evolutive extended Kalman filter for data assimilation in oceanography, J. Marine Sys, vol.16, pp.3-4, 1998.

R. Pingree, . Mardell, . Holligan, . Griffiths, and J. Smithers, Celtic Sea and Armorican current structure and the vertical distributions of temperature and chlorophyll, Continental Shelf Research, vol.1, issue.1, pp.99-116, 1982.
DOI : 10.1016/0278-4343(82)90033-4

R. D. Pingree and B. Le-cann, Celtic and Armorican slope and shelf residual currents, Progress in Oceanography, vol.23, issue.4, pp.303-338, 1989.
DOI : 10.1016/0079-6611(89)90003-7

R. D. Pingree and B. Le-cann, Structure, strength and seasonality of the slope currents in the Bay of Biscay region, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, vol.88, issue.04, pp.857-885, 1990.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1980)0102.0.CO;2

R. Pingree and B. Le-cann, Three anticyclonic slope water oceanic eDDIES (SWODDIES) in the Southern Bay of Biscay in 1990, Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers, vol.39, issue.7-8, pp.1147-1175, 1990.
DOI : 10.1016/0198-0149(92)90062-X

R. Pingree and B. Le-cann, Anticyclonic eddy X91 in the southern Bay of Biscay, J. Geophys. Res, vol.97, pp.14-353, 1991.

R. D. Pingree, 1993: Flow of surface waters to the west of the British Isles and in the Bay of Biscay, Deep-Sea Res, pp.40-369

I. Puillat, P. Lazure, A. M. Jégou, L. Lampert, and P. I. Miller, Hydrographical variability on the French continental shelf in the Bay of Biscay, during the 1990s, Continental Shelf Research, vol.24, issue.10, pp.10-1143, 2004.
DOI : 10.1016/j.csr.2004.02.008

F. Raicich, The assessment of temperature and salinity sampling strategies in the Mediterranean Sea: idealized and real cases, Ocean Science, vol.2, issue.2, pp.97-112, 2006.
DOI : 10.5194/os-2-97-2006
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00298373

L. Roblou, F. Lyard, L. Henaff, M. Maraldi, and C. , 2007: X-track, a new processing tool for altimetry in coastal oceans, ESA ENVISAT Symposium, p.636, 2007.

E. Rodriguez and B. Pollard, The measurement capabilities of wide-swath ocean altimeters, Report of the High-Resolution Ocean Topography Science Working Group Meeting, pp.190-215, 2001.

J. She and J. M. Klinck, Flow near submarine canyons driven by constant winds, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, vol.115, issue.C12, pp.671-28694, 2000.
DOI : 10.1029/2000JC900126
URL : http://digitalcommons.odu.edu/ccpo_pubs/52

A. Schiller, S. E. Wijffels, and G. A. Meyers, Design Requirements for an Argo Float Array in the Indian Ocean Inferred from Observing System Simulation Experiments, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, vol.21, issue.10, 2004.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0426(2004)021<1598:DRFAAF>2.0.CO;2

V. Toumazou and J. F. Créteaux, Using a Lanczos Eigensolver in the Computation of Empirical Orthogonal Functions, Monthly Weather Review, vol.129, issue.5, pp.1243-1250, 2001.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0493(2001)129<1243:UALEIT>2.0.CO;2

C. Ulses, Dynamique océanique et transport de la matière particulaire dans le Golfe du Lion : crue, tempête et période hivernale, Thèse de doctorat, 2005.

C. Ulses, C. Estournel, J. Bonnin, X. Durrieu-de-madron, and P. Marsaleix, Impact of storms and dense water cascading on shelf-slope exchanges in the Gulf of Lion (NW Mediterranean), submitted to, J. Geophys. Res, 2007.

H. M. Van-aken, The hydrography of the mid-latitude Northeast Atlantic Ocean I: The deep water masses, Deep-Sea Res, pp.47-757, 2000.

H. M. Van-aken, The hydrography of the mid-latitude Northeast Atlantic Ocean II: The intermediate water masses, Deep-Sea Res, pp.47-789, 2000.

H. M. Van-aken, The hydrography of the mid-latitude Northeast Atlantic Ocean ??? Part III: the subducted thermocline water mass, Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, vol.48, issue.1, pp.237-267, 2001.
DOI : 10.1016/S0967-0637(00)00059-5

H. M. Van-aken, Surface currents in the Bay of Biscay as observed with drifters between, pp.1071-1086, 1995.

J. Verron, Altimeter data assimilation into an ocean circulation model: Sensitivity to orbital parameters, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol.78, issue.1, pp.11443-11459, 1990.
DOI : 10.1029/JC095iC07p11443

. Astraldi, Improved satellite altimetry in coastal systems: Case study of the Corsica Channel (Mediterranean Sea), Geophys. Res. Let, p.1029, 2005.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00280350

A. Vincent and G. Kurc, Hydrologie-variations saisonnières de la situation thermique de Gascogne en 1967, p.7996, 1969.
DOI : 10.1007/bf00006345

J. Wu, Wind-Stress coefficients over Sea surface near Neutral Conditions???A Revisit, Journal of Physical Oceanography, vol.10, issue.5, pp.727-740, 1980.
DOI : 10.1175/1520-0485(1980)010<0727:WSCOSS>2.0.CO;2