Institute of the Environment

Spring 2009
 ENV 184

The Basics of Satellite Oceanography

Instructor - Nikolay P. Nezlin

Lectures:
on Thursdays from 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Location: MS 5118, beginning April 2, 2009

Office Hours:
Botany 411 on Thursdays 12-3pm (by appointment)
Other days - by appointment

Course Description:
The physical and biogeochemical processes in the World Ocean (winds, currents, phytoplankton and fish production) are very important in terms of both human environment (weather, pollution) and food resources (fishery, aquaculture). The data obtained by scientific satellites provide oceanographers with a large volume of information on the state of the World Ocean’s surface. This multidisciplinary information enables the comprehensive monitoring of both physical (sea surface temperature measured by infrared sensors, anomalies of sea surface height measured by altimeters, sea winds measured by scatterometers) and biological (phytoplankton biomass and water turbidity derived from the ocean color measured by optical sensors) properties of the ecosystems in different ocean regions. Remote sensing is a powerful and comprehensive research tool for studies of the World Ocean, including climatic cycles, pollution, ocean productivity, etc.

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND PREREQUISITES:
This course seeks to introduce students to the basic concepts of oceanography, satellites, and the applications of satellite remote sensing to oceanographic studies. Students will obtain (a) the basics knowledge on physical, chemical, and biological oceanography; (b) the information about the Earth-orbiting systems observing ocean from space; and (c) some practical skills in using satellite data for the analysis of physical/biological processes in the ocean. Open to all students familiar with personal computer.

COURSE READING MATERIALS:

The reading materials will be available from the instructor’s website.

Remote Sensing Tutorials available online:

Fundamentals of Remote Sensing (Canada Centre for Remote Sensing)
http://ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/resource/tutor/fundam/index_e.php
Remote Sensing Tutorial (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Front/tofc.html

COURSE GRADING BASIS:

Assignments on lecture topics 30%
Midterm questionnaire 30%
Term paper and presentation 40%

For term paper, students may form study groups up to three people.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Lecture 1. The basic concepts of oceanography - (04/02/2009)
 
  • The basic concepts of hydrophysical processes in the ocean;
  • The main external forces driving ocean currents (earth rotation and wind stress);
  • The heat flux through the ocean surface resulting in vertical stratification of water properties (temperature, salinity and density);
  • The main features of horizontal water circulation (geostrophic flow, Rossby waves and Ekman drift);
  • Vertical circulation (Upwelling).
  • The role of stratification in phytoplankton ecology

  • Lecture 1 - Power Point presentation
  • Assignment 1
Lecture 2. Satellites and sensors - (04/09/2009)
 
  • The basic principles of space technology;
  • The basic elements and sampling characteristics of satellite orbits;
  • Electromagnetic spectrum and satellite sensors;
  • Active and passive sensors;
  • Data transmission to the Earth;
  • Orbit determination techniques.

  • Lecture 2 - Power Point presentation
  • Assignment 2
Lecture 3. Remote sensing of the sea - (04/16/2009)
 
  • The general principles of remote sensing of the sea;
  • Sensor calibration;
  • Atmospheric correction;
  • Positional registration;
  • Oceanographic sampling for “sea truth”;
  • Image processing;
  • The main types of sensors:
    -
    		Visible wavelength “ocean color” sensors;
    -
    		 Infrared radiometers of sea surface temperature;
    -
    		 Passive microwave radiometers;
    -
    		 Active radar-altimeters of sea surface topography;
    -

    Active microwave sensors of sea surface roughness.

  • Lecture 3 - Power Point presentation
  • Assignment 3
Lecture 4. Oceanographic Applications: Infrared Measurement of Sea Surface Temperature - (04/23/2009)
 
  • Infrared radiometry
  • Interpretation of sea surface temperature
  • Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
  • Multi-Channel Sea Surface Temperature (MCSST) algorithm
  • Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)
  • CoastWatch sea surface temperature data source and software

  • Lecture 4 - Power Point presentation
  • Assignment 4
Lecture 5. Oceanographic Applications: Radar-altimeters - (04/30/2009)
 
Lecture 6. Oceanographic Applications: Ocean Color - (05/7/2009)
 
  • Basic principles of satellite measurements of ocean color
  • Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS);
  • Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS);
  • MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS);
  • Patterns of phytoplankton distribution in the World Ocean.

  • Lecture 6 - Power Point presentation
  • Assignment 6
Lecture 7. Ocean Color and Phytoplankton - (05/14/2009)
 
  • Chlorophyll and photosynthesis
  • Vertical distribution of phytoplankton in the ocean
  • Estimation of phytoplankton biomass from satellite ocean color observations
  • Estimation of chlorophyll fluorescence from MODIS ocean color observations
  • Coccolithophores and harmful algal blooms
  • Seasonal cycles of phytoplankton biomass
  • Global phytoplankton biomass and primary production

  • Lecture 7 - Power Point presentation
  • Assignment 7
Lecture 8. Mesoscale variability and coastal pollution - (05/21/2009)
 
  • The main contributors to ocean color:
    • Phytoplankton (CHL)
    • Suspended sediments (TSS)
    • Color Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM)
  • Horizontal transport of phytoplankton and pollutants in the Black Sea
  • Spring bloom in Southern California Bight resulting from coastal upwelling
  • Stormwater plumes in the Southern California Bight

  • Lecture 8 - Power Point presentation
  • Assignment 8
Lecture 9. Multi-disciplinary approach: El-Nino 1997-1998 off California - (05/28/2009)
 
Final session. Presentations and discussion of term papers - (06/04/2009)