Coastal Oceanographic Use of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP).
Abstract
The spaceborne infrared sensors (8-13 micrometers) of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) have provided remarkable images of mesoscale sea surface thermal patterns outlining currents, thermally distinct watermasses, and oceanic fronts. During 1971-72 the thermal outlines of the South Korean Coastal Oceanic Front, the Tsushima Current, the Yellow Sea Warm Current, the China Coastal Current and the Liman Current were detected and monitored with the 2-nmi resolution infrared DMSP imagery. The data are displayed in a series of 16 gray shades on photographlike images covering an area of 1560x3000 nmi of the Earth's surface. The images are oblique Mercator projections at scales of 1:15,000,000 or enlarged to 1:7,500,000 with a thermal resolution of 1.6C. The outstanding characteristics of this system are: (1) The high repetition rate of coverage (minimum) of four times daily), (2) near real-time data availability, (3) high-resolution (1/3 and 2 nmi) visual and infrared images, and (4) global coverage. As in other infrared systems, cloud cover prevents sea surface observations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA024269
Entities
People
- Oscar K. Huh
Organizations
- Naval Oceanographic Office