Ocean Patterns detection using high resolution microwave and optical remote sensing observations

JUAN PABLO PISONI; ANDRÉS L. RIVAS; ALBERTO R. PIOLA; DOMINGO A. GAGLIARDINI

Puerto Madryn, Chubut. Argentina

Workshop; 4th Aquarius/SAC-D Science Workshop; 2008

Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE)

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite sensors have demonstrated the ability to observe a variety of features related to ocean dynamics such as, surface waves, oil spills, internal waves, currents, eddies, fronts and bathymetric features. On the other hand Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) high-resolution thermal and optical channels can be used to observe brightness temperatures, surface layer ocean colour (upwelled radiance) and sun glint (reflected radiance). Both sources of information show us similar patterns of surface roughness. When sun glint prevails, optical channels can respond to the sea surface roughness conditions. When upwelled radiation dominates over sun glint, optical images can still provide typical ocean colour information associated with suspended matter, i.e. biological activity and dynamical features. This dual capability of optical high-resolution radiometers to detect circulation features can clearly extend and complement the use of SAR data in ocean dynamics studies. A set of ERS-2 SAR and LANDSAT-5TM images provided by the Argentine Agency for Space Activities (Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales - CONAE) were used to observed internal waves, fronts, bathymetric features and sediment distribution over the Argentine Continental Shelf. The study area is highly productive and, therefore, important for regional and local economies and for the well-being of marine life. Many species of seabirds, marine mammals, birds, fish, mollusks and crustaceans breed and forage along these coasts. Despite the fact that important biological processes are highly affected by the dynamics of the coastal waters, oceanographic information is scarce and incomplete. The present poster shows that all processes affecting biological environment can be monitored from two different sensors and it briefly describes the reason why these sensors are able to detect the mentioned processes.