The Effects of Abrupt Topography on Ocean Currents as Sensed by Satellite Remote Sensing
Abstract
The objective of this project is to use a variety of remote sensing methods to study the interaction between ocean circulation and the abrupt bottom topography at the location of Fieberling seamount in the eastern Pacific Ocean (west of Los Angeles). In support of these satellite measurements the project includes the collection of shipborne XBT surveys of the area around the Fierberling seamount. The satellite data tools being studied are the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on the NOAA TIROS-N weather satellites and the RADAR altimeter on the GEOSAT satellite. The AVHRR data can be processed to produce 1 km resolution images of sea surface temperature (SST) from the infrared AVHRR channels. Sequential SST images can be used to estimate ocean surface currents from advection of the surface temperature patterns. The GEOSAT altimetry can be used to monitor the temporal changes of the sea surface elevation which can then be converted to estimates of the changes in geostrophic currents. Thus the 2 years of GEOSAT data available supply a valuable picture of the changes in the geostrophic currents in the area around Fieberling. Keywords: Height finding; Bathythermograph data; Satellite imagery; Ocean bottom topography; Meteorological satellites. (EDC)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 25, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA214123
Entities
People
- William J. Emery
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder