2018 Fall Meeting

10-15 December

Observations of surface ocean properties by satellite remote sensing are essential components for scientific investigations, modeling and data assimilation activities, and operational applications that assess, monitor and predict the physical, biological, and biogeochemical states of the marine ecosystem. For the open ocean, many key environmental parameters are determined on a routine and sustained basis from well-validated algorithms including sea surface temperature, sea surface height, ocean color, sea ice, ocean winds, and roughness of the ocean surface (e.g., oil spills), providing frequent and synoptic coverage. Retrievals in coastal and near-shore waters continue to be an area of active research and development, but many products are ready for use in research and science-based applications. Gaining access to and utilizing these satellite data can be daunting to the non-specialist, however. This tutorial will: i) review current status and availability of mature, operational satellite observations for the ocean and coasts; ii) highlight methods for the discovery and acquisition of these data; iii) provide information on emerging satellite-derived products; and iv) illustrate use of these data through representative case studies. The tutorial will conclude with a group discussion on solutions to the barriers (real or perceived) that constrain more routine utilization of these data.

• OS - Ocean Sciences