A Study of the Relationship Between Oceanic Chemical Mesoscale and Sea Surface Thermal Structure as Detected by Satellite Infrared Imagery

摘要

In recent years the study of ocean fronts and eddies has become increasingly important to the U.S. Navy for they are of vital importance in understanding underwater sound transmission. From the history of satellite pictures for the area of the ocean off the central California coast, it appears that cold water which has come to the surface as a result of upwelling has become intertwined within the California Current. The persistent thermal features in the sea surface which are formed were the subject area of this study. Direct telephone contact was established with the satellite receiving station which afforded real time satellite information as to the thermal structure of the sea surface on a mesoscale. This satellite sensed thermal structure was then compared with in situ nutrient and temperature data collected on three cruises on board the research vessel ACANIA. The agreement between the in situ data and the satellite imagery was very strong and the utilization of satellite imagery was shown to be a very effective method to localize an ocean front.