EMECO

Satellites

Satellites carrying remote sensors that monitor the world's oceans orbit the Earth. 

Remote sensing refers to the detection of electromagnetic energy by a sensor that is able to record light information and convert it into an image that provides terrestrial or marine surface data.

Satellite remote sensing operations routinely monitoring the ocean's colour. Ocean colour data can provide information on the sea surface temperature, suspended particulate matter, and chlorophyll a concentration. Other applications include mapping the seabed of intertidal and shallow subtidal regions, and  monitoring the extent of oil spills and sea ice.

Knowledge of the temperature in the upper layer of the water column is very important in both ecological and in climate change studies. Remote sensing is an excellent tool for monitoring sea surface temperature because it allows accurate, simultaneous observations for large sea areas.

Monitoring the quantity and types and sizes of suspended particulate matter in the water column can provide important information on primary production and nutrient levels in the system. Remote sensing is capable of measuring both the quantity and size of the particulate matter suspended in the water due to the difference in the light back scattering characteristics.

Monitoring the abundance and timing changes in chlorophyll a concentrations provides important information about primary production and the timings of algal blooms. The timing and size of the algal bloom can be important in climate change studies in monitoring oceanic nutrient levles.

More information about satellite remote sensing