Oceanic tidal signals in satellite magnetic data: quo vadis?

The continuous high-quality geomagnetic field measurements delivered by the Swarm satellite constellation trio have enabled reliable global mapping of the magnetic signature of ocean tides for several tidal constituents. These signals provide geophysical constraints on the average electrical conductivity profile of the upper mantle below the oceans. In principle, these signals can also sense lateral variations of the electrical conductivity in the oceanic upper mantle, although the amplitude of these effects is small. Additionally, the long-term changes in the climatology of the ocean can be potentially detected by the magnetic satellite signals. Both applications put additional demands on the accuracy and resolution of the extracted signals. This contribution discusses potential ways to meet the required demands and evaluates the feasibility of using the magnetic signature of ocean tides for studying these effects.