16.6 NOAA's NESDIS SATELLITE OCEANOGRAPHY NOAA NESDIS

16.6 NOAA’s NESDIS SATELLITE OCEANOGRAPHY

ERIC BAYLER, ROBERT CHENEY, PAUL CHANG, DENNIS CLARK, KENT HUGHES, ALAN STRONG NOAA NESDIS Office of Research and Applications, Satellite Oceanography Division

ABSTRACT

Satellite oceanography within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) focuses on observation retrieval and applications to address the NOAA missions of environmental assessment, prediction, and stewardship. The Satellite Oceanography Division encompasses three functional areas: satellite ocean sensors, ocean dynamics / data assimilation, and marine ecosystems / climate. The breadth of scientific investigation includes sea-surface temperature, sea-surface height, sea-surface roughness, ocean color, surface vector winds, sea ice, data assimilation, and operational oceanography.

1. INTRODUCTION ocean, http://orbit- net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/index.html. The Satellite Oceanography Division of the In pursuit of this goal, the Satellite National Oceanic and Atmospheric Oceanography Division seeks to provide national Administration (NOAA) National Environmental and global leadership in civilian operational Satellite, Data, and Information Service oceanography through the development of new (NESDIS) focuses its efforts on applications satellite sensors, improved collection of current research and development to address the NOAA ocean data, and capacity building that develops missions of environmental assessment, infrastructure, trains new ocean scientists, and prediction, and stewardship. Specifically, the provides outreach tools using the latest Satellite Oceanography Division’s efforts entail technology. In its efforts, the Division promotes research to address the NOAA strategies of the optimal use of data to ensure realization of monitor and observe, understand and describe, benefits environment applications with new and assess and predict, and engage, advise, and improved algorithms, enhanced data inform in pursuit of NOAA’s four primary mission assimilation, and development of long-term data goals: Ecosystems, Climate, Weather and sets. Divisional efforts directly support producing Water, and Commerce and Transportation. the highest quality products in a timely manner to The NESDIS mission, to provide timely facilitate the prediction and assessment of the access to global environmental data from state of the environment and the promotion of satellites and other sources to promote, protect, widespread availability of environmental data and enhance the Nation’s economy, security, and information. The Division further supports environment, and quality of life, further shapes NOAA research goals by developing quality- the focus of the division. Specific NESDIS assured coastal and ocean applications that fully themes guiding the division are: improving utilize and integrate current and emerging weather products and services, extending satellite data and by developing products using climate services, improving coastal services, satellite data. In addition, the Division focuses providing operational ocean services, and saving on transforming observations into useful climate lives and property through hazards support. information; improving the use of satellite data in Within this framework and the context of satellite numerical weather prediction models; and ocean remote sensing, the Satellite improving the use of NOAA satellite data for Oceanography Division strives to be a national disaster reduction support. focal point for satellite oceanography by building on the research done by federal, state, and local 2. STRUCTURE agencies, academia, and the private sector to extend NOAA’s investment in understanding the Within the Satellite Oceanography Division, ocean and processes/events affected by the there are three functional areas: satellite ocean ______sensors, ocean dynamics / data assimilation, and marine ecosystems / climate. These * Corresponding aurthor address: Eric Bayler, functional areas are augmented through cross- NOAA NESDIS Office of Research and cutting efforts of science teams investigating the Applications, 5200 Auth Road, Room 711,Camp areas of sea-surface temperature (SST), sea- Springs, MD 20746-4304, USA; surface height (SSH), sea-surface roughness [email protected] (SSR), ocean color, ocean surface winds, and sea ice. The goal is end-to-end science, from sensor development and observation retrieval models for oceanic/atmospheric prediction and through the development of applications and the studying climate change. In cooperation with implementation of operational products for agencies in the United States and abroad, the significant observable ocean parameters, division ensures that operational processing of including those parameters derivable through the satellite data meets national requirements for fusion of different observed parameters. The assimilation in predictive models and monitoring science teams’ efforts translate to four common of various ocean dynamic phenomena, e.g. El themes: calibration and validation, operational Niño. The division also is a focal point for satellite ocean remote sensing, climate, and data facilitating and promoting satellite ocean remote assimilation. sensing data assimilation within the interagency Within the functional area of satellite ocean (Department of Defense, National Aviation and sensors, the division’s research principally Space Administration (NASA), NOAA) Joint focuses on developing sensor-level Center for Satellite Data Assimilation. Data measurements into instrument-specific Assimilation is a rapidly growing area of focus. geophysical products. The research explores The Satellite Oceanography Division has long the physics that describe the relationships contributed to the National Weather Service’s between sensor observations and geophysical data assimilation of SSTs, SSHs, and ocean products. This effort involves developing and vector winds. With the recent formation of the validating model functions used to retrieve the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation geophysical parameters and understanding the (JCSDA) between NOAA, Navy, Air Force, and uncertainties associated with the various NASA, data assimilation has become a principal components and parameterizations invoked. The focus for environmental modeling. The Satellite research addresses instruments that span the Oceanography Division is making a commitment visible, infrared, and microwave spectral regions, of both scientific and operational support for focusing on ocean color physics and biology, satellite data assimilation for numerical sea-surface temperatures, and ocean surface environmental prediction, including climate winds. Research areas include the development investigations. The scientific support involves of: in-situ optical instrumentation and bio-optical providing sufficiently accurate data with known algorithms for the calibration/validation of error characteristics and assisting the products derived from satellite ocean color incorporation of the data into models. sensors; sea-surface temperature retrievals from The functional area of marine ecosystems infrared and microwave instruments in both and climate encompasses research and geostationary and polar orbits; and ocean development of operational satellite remote surface winds derived from active and passive sensing applications for oceanic, coastal, and microwave sensors. The fundamental objective estuarine areas. Satellite data (e.g., sea surface is to provide science-quality satellite and in-situ temperature, ocean color, surface winds) are data sets with traceable uncertainties. The processed and analyzed to resolve aspects of division also develops, monitors, and maintains marine ecosystems important to NOAA’s time-series observations for assessing the long- objectives for monitoring habitats, protecting term stability of the data sets. species, maintaining human health, and For the functional area of ocean dynamics promoting sustainable development. This and data assimilation, the division researches functional area also works to develop an and develops operational applications relevant to understanding of observable and derivable physical oceanography and marine geophysics satellite ocean remote sensing parameters in the using combinations of satellite data and in-situ context of climate change. The division works ocean observations. with domestic and foreign agencies to ensure This functional area exploit sdata fusion as a that operational processing of satellite data technique for developing new observational meets ecosystem-monitoring and climate-quality products of derived dynamical parameters, such data record requirements. as ocean surface currents (radar altimetry/scatterometry) and near-surface ocean 3. SCIENCE ACTIVITIES heat content (radar altimetry/sea-surface temperature) to determine aspects of the general Formal science teams cut across functional ocean circulation and its variability. Additionallly, areas to address the science issues and product this functional area employs radar altimetry data development for specific categories of satellite to examine the marine gravity field, bottom ocean remote sensing parameters, subject to topography, and sea-level rise. Results are prioritization based on user requirements. As a interpreted in the context of supporting numerical public-interest government agency and unlike academia, NOAA/NESDIS must remain focused modeling results, in particular for comparing SST on the end value of its efforts, products, and signatures of ocean dynamics with the modeled services. The current science teams are: sea- location of currents, fronts, and eddies. surface temperature, sea-surface height, sea- In conjunction with support for the National surface roughness, ocean color, ocean surface Weather Service and operational oceanography winds, and sea ice. Science activities, by users, the SST science team is developing a science team are discussed below. “best-value” SST product that blends GOES and POES observations. This new product is 3.1 Sea-surface Temperature currently undergoing validation. Work has also begun to extend this product to incorporate Sea-surface temperature investigations address microwave SST observations. both geostationary and polar-orbit observations Using a satellite-only climatology [1984- and involve SST retrieval with thermal infrared 1993], SST anomalies are now being generated and microwave sensors. NESDIS’s satellite from the 50-km daily field produced from oceanography accomplishments include a long operational multi-channel SST data. These history of extracting SSTs from multi-channel anomalies are somewhat less reliable at high infrared data. Current science efforts focus on latitude where, due to more persistent clouds improving the retrieval of SST values by and ice, limited satellite data was available for correcting for atmospheric attenuation and the computation of monthly climatologies. The accommodating sensor design changes. In-situ SST Anomaly charts and their time series are SSTs, from drifting and moored buoys, are used useful in assessing El Niño-Southern Oscillation to remove biases and for compiling statistics to (ENSO) development, monitoring hurricane assess and maintain operational accuracy. "wake" cooling, assessing major shifts in coastal Current efforts include developing a physical upwelling, and evaluating recent climate retrieval algorithm to replace the current changes (Strong et al., 2000). empirically-derived regression-based operational The 50-km climatology was primarily algorithm and investigating the influences of developed in conjunction with producing new aerosols on SST retrieval values. A significant Coral Reef HotSpot Charts. Work on coral reef additional task is deriving a modified retrieval bleaching is a significant focus area. The algorithm to compensate for the design change Division has developed initial algorithms using that eliminated the 12-micron split-window satellite sea-surface temperature imagery to channel on the GOES-12 series satellites. Near- identify regions of concern for coral bleaching term product efforts are focused on transitioning events. New Coral Reef Watch (CRW) products available Geostationary Operational provide early warnings of when sea-surface Environmental Satellite (GOES) SSTs to temperatures reach higher than 1° C above operational status and fusing GOES and Polar- expected maximum summertime levels orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (Wellington et al., 2001). This threshold appears (POES) observations into a blended satellite to be the level above which corals accumulate SST product (Maturi and Harris, 2002). The dangerous heat stress. Excessively-warm division has developed an initial microwave SST events appear to closely correlate with the onset retrieval algorithm for the Tropical Rainfall of bleaching of healthy corals and, with Measuring Mission (TRIMM) Microwave Imager subsequent continued exposure, the eventual (TMI). The methodology developed for TMI will death of the coral and possible severe damage be used for the WindSAT and the Conical to the reefs. Consequently, CRW also recently Microwave Imager/Sounder (CMIS) proposed to developed a product to track degree-heating fly on the National Polar-orbiting Operational weeks (DHWs) to measure the accumulated Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) when thermal stress experienced by the corals. The that data becomes available. The objective is to HotSpot product, together with the DHW eventually create a blended Product, are now provided on an operational GOES/POES/microwave SST product with basis. CRW is a broader initiative that is both known and characterized errors. domestic (US Coral Reef Task Force) and In support of numerical weather prediction, international (World Bank Targeted Research, the division provides SST data for assimilation and The Nature Conservancy). into the National Weather Service models. Another application recently developed Routine high-resolution (temporal and spatial) combines satellite SST observations with a infrared imagery from GOES and POES model of salinity to analyze/forecast probable satellites is also provided to the National locations of sea nettles, a stinging jelly, within Weather Service for validation of ocean the Chesapeake Bay. This work has now been extended to an experimental system for these measurements are processed at NOAA in nowcasting harmful algal blooms of the toxic near real-time, enabling operational monitoring dinoflagellate Karlodinium micrum in the of open ocean circulation. Another new data Chesapeake Bay. It is anticipated that this will fusion effort combines SSH and SST to assess evolve to combining SST observations with upper ocean heat content, especially as related satellite sea-surface salinity measurements to ocean forcing of tropical cyclones. The when available (Brown et al., 2002). incorporation of this ocean surface heat content product into tropical cyclone intensity forecasting 3.2 Sea-surface Height has contributed to a statistically significant improvement. Sea-surface height (SSH) efforts within the The LSA is also a leader in altimetry as division are centered in the Laboratory for applied to marine geophysics. To first order, the Satellite Altimetry (LSA). Historically, LSA has profiles of sea surface topography produced by been involved in every U.S. and foreign satellite- orbiting altimeters provide information on the based radar altimeter mission since Geos-3 in Earth’s gravity field over the oceans. This can 1975. The science expertise spans the areas of be combined with models of the solid Earth and physical oceanography, geophysics, and depth measurements from ships to generate geodesy (Cheney, 2001). Significant research detailed maps of the ocean floor (Sandwell and areas include: improving sea-surface height Smith, 2001). Building on previous work, the retrievals through re-tracking the altimeter LSA is involved in planning future missions for observations; applying altimeter data to the issue more advanced altimeters that would further of global sea-level rise to assess the improve knowledge of open ocean bathymetry contributions of thermal expansion and mass (http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/abyss). addition; evaluating and maximizing the value of gravity observations from the GRACE mission; 3.3 Ocean Color and pursuing the development of satellite bathymetry. Ocean color investigations focus on Building on past experience, the LSA converting sensor-level measurements into prepares altimeter data sets and is responsible instrument-specific geophysical products by for the production and documentation of data for exploring and defining the underlying physics. the Geosat Follow-On (GFO) altimeter mission This work involves developing and validating launched in 1998 and expected to operate until model functions used to retrieve the geophysical 2006. LSA investigators also serve as principle parameters and understanding the uncertainties investigators on the science teams for Jason-1 associated with the various components and and Envisat altimeters. NOAA’s initial parameterizations invoked. Significant time is experience with operating its own altimeter will spent providing continuous near-real-time come with the Jason-2 altimeter, when NOAA radiometric observations from the Marine Optical and European counterpart, the European Buoy System (MOBY) located off the coast of Organisation for the Exploitation of Lanai, Hawai’i in open-ocean (Case 1) water. Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), join the A major element of the MOBY program is National Aeronautics and Space Administration providing results that have been calibrated to (NASA) and the Centre National d’Etudes National Institute of Science and Technology Spatiales (CNES) in making Jason-2 a 4-party (NIST) radiometric standards. Shipboard project. NOAA will provide two Earth stations, experiments are routinely conducted to: collect satellite command and control, and operational data for product algorithm development; provide data processing. NOAA altimetry will continue in-situ observations for initializing newly- with the NPOESS constellation. launched ocean color sensors; validating Products and services provided by LSA radiometric retrievals and derived products; and include routinely delivering SSH data to the developing new in-situ instrumentation and National Weather Service for assimilation into measurement protocols (Clark et al., 2002). The their ocean model and verification of the NWS present focus is on the validation of bio-optical wave forecast model. A newly developed products and radiometric calibration of the product depicts the evolution of the total surface Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer current in tropical Pacific, fusing the geostrophic (MODIS). In conjunction with this MODIS effort, component derived from SSH measurements the division’s research centers on measuring made by the Jason-1 altimeter with the wind- upwelling radiances and the spectral absorption driven component from surface winds observed coefficients of suspended particles for bio-optical by the QuikSCAT radar scatterometer. Both of algorithm development. A set of field experiments in the Chesapeake Bay during 2002 Doppler velocity of the rain, permitting the and 2003 has begun to test preliminary measurement of wind profiles to the surface. instrument designs for a coastal MOBY for Another new capability will be dual-polarized research on the optical properties of coastal antennas that will collect horizontal and vertical (Case 2) waters. polarized backscatter for the first time in these In addition to calibrated observations, the limiting conditions. These modifications, coupled division develops ocean color applications. with data being measured from other sensors, Recent improvements in ocean color should allow full exploration of the ocean surface instrumentation have allowed tracking of regional backscatter response in these limiting conditions. and local events such as red tides for coastal Working with the JPL scatterometer project, an health mitigation. Active projects include experimental 12.5 km-resolution product has routinely generating and validating the accuracy been implemented in the NESDIS near-real-time of NOAA/NESDIS operational products derived processing stream, but it has restricted from satellite ocean color data, and developing distribution while the division works on validation algorithms for the production of beneficial ocean and improvement (Jelenak et al., 2002). NWS color products. An operational product resulting marine forecasters are permitted access for from this effort is the identification and location of evaluation and the overall feedback is that the Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), such as red tides. higher detail is very useful at times, even though the current product still requires refinement. 3.4 Ocean Vector Winds The division’s work with passive polarimetry focuses on the development of initial retrieval Ocean vector winds investigations and algorithms for WindSat and assessing the products have been principally based on WindSat data. Specifically, the division is scatterometry, currently with QuikSCAT data. In investigating the wind retrieval and ambiguity conjunction with NPOESS risk reduction, passive removal algorithms; participating on the WindSat polarimetry retrievals are also being pursued. calibration/validation team; addressing data Additionally, Synthetic Aperture Radar high- distribution issues; and developing an resolution retrievals and products are being operational demonstration project for all developed. Current scatterometry efforts environmental data records (EDR). A relevant include: QuikSCAT high wind retrievals, website is at characterization of scatterometer measurements http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/doc/oceanwinds1.ht in high winds and with/without precipitation ml. The division has been working closely with (aircraft-based experiments); high-resolution the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to develop (12.5 km) wind product validation and the atmospheric portion of the physics-based improvement through ambiguity removal and rain wind vector retrieval algorithm for the WindSat flagging; generation of standard 25km products, project. In FY01, funding was received for a joint normalized radar cross section, and ambiguity proposal with NRL to establish an operational plots; and science support for operational demonstration project around WindSat as risk forecasting users. reduction for CMIS. A near real-time processing In particular, the division has been trying to system has been established for WindSat that characterize scatterometer measurements of the will allow processing and distribution of the full ocean surface in high wind speed conditions and range of EDRs in addition to the wind vector. in the presence of varying amounts of precipitation. The approach has been to fly two 3.5 Sea-surface Roughness scatterometers (C and Ku-band) on the NOAA P- 3 aircraft in various experiments over the past Sea-surface roughness investigations seek several years (Donnely et al., 1999), including, to exploit satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) most recently, a mission on Hurricane Isabel to data for a multitude of oceanographic collect data in Category 5 conditions. This work applications. The range of applications being is being done in collaboration with the Microwave investigated within the division includes: Remote Sensing Laboratory at the University of mapping and analyzing detailed ocean surface Massachusetts (UMASS) and the NOAA dynamic features and underlying topographic Hurricane Research Division at the Atlantic features, identifying oil spills, mapping sea ice, Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory locating algal blooms, and determining high- (AOML). UMASS recently modified the resolution vector winds (Pichel and Clemente- scatterometers to have the capability of Colon, 2000) (http://orbit- measuring reflectivity profiles through a net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad/sar/). A goal of the precipitating atmosphere in addition to the sea-surface roughness team is establishing operational synthetic aperture radar data and Oceanography Division’s sea-ice team helps NIC products. science branch’s development of ice analyses A demonstration of near real-time SAR and forecast products by improving infrared, applications (AlasKa SAR DEMOnstration scatterometer, and SAR satellite products used Project - AKDEMO) began in the fall of 1999, to validate the NIC ice model. QuikSCAT daily employing data from RadarSat-1. The areas of ice maps are routinely provided to the NIC. Sea- interest are coastal Alaska waters of the Bering ice products are also provided to the NWS Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Northern National Center for Environmental Prediction. Gulf of Alaska. Goals for the demonstration Recently the division’s sea-ice science team has include: 1) testing and validating prototype SAR been pursuing the use of satellite altimetry to products that respond to critical needs not measure sea-ice thickness. satisfied with observational data in the Alaska region; 2) providing SAR imagery and derived 4. OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY products in near-real-time via the Internet for trial use by operational agencies; and 3) familiarizing In conjunction with other NOAA Offices, the operational agencies with SAR image data and Satellite Oceanography Division’s NOAA products. CoastWatch Program operationally provides Recently, the division has been focusing on near-real-time environmental satellite data the development of SAR applications. The products to federal, state, and local coastal division continues to participate in the resource managers, marine scientists/educators, GHOSTNET project, providing SAR and public, and commercial value-added users. additional data to help NMFS locate regions of Since the beginning of the Program in 1987, sea ocean convergence in the North Pacific where surface temperature (SST) from the Advanced lost and discarded fishing nets may congregate. Very High Resolution Radiometers (AVHRR) on The objective of this effort is to protect marine NOAA's polar orbiting spacecraft has comprised habitats, coral reefs in particular, from damage the core data stream of NOAA CoastWatch. and entanglement of protected species. Within the last five years, however, data from Additionally, the division is sponsoring SAR several other ocean sensing satellite systems research projects that exploit the SAR’s ability to have proven increasingly important to coastal image coastal ocean features. One project aims and ocean resource managers and scientists so at using images of an estuarine plume, adjacent their data and products are also now provided. coastal water circulation, and oil slick signatures Most near real-time CoastWatch products to validate a local circulation model. Another are available without restriction at project seeks to relate similar SAR observations http://coastwatch.noaa.gov. Retrospective and in-situ data to the life cycle of salmonid CoastWatch satellite-derived data products are species. provided through the Satellite Active Archive (http://www.saa.noaa.gov). Presently, the most 3.6 Sea Ice popular CoastWatch products come from NOAA’s geostationary satellites. These data are Sea ice is addressed predominately from an collected and processed into three-hour operational perspective. The advent of satellite composite GOES SST products for all US ocean remote sensing has allowed increased coastal areas. NOAA CoastWatch currently knowledge of the features of the polar ocean that purchases from the commercial sector U.S. East would ordinarily be inaccessible during many and West Coast site licenses for unlimited months of the year and prohibitively expensive to Orbview-2 (SeaWiFS) ocean color scenes to survey using ground- based methods. Recent support US coastal resource managers. This satellite research has demonstrated the efficacy arrangement is in the process of transitioning to of satellite data in improving sea-ice forecasts in the EOS (MODIS) ocean color data stream. the polar and surrounding regions. Ongoing Sea-surface temperature and ocean color efforts include close collaboration with the products are routinely available for both EOS National Ice Center (NIC) via the Satellite Terra and Aqua for U.S. coastal regions and Oceanography Division’s sea-ice science team selected additional areas. From images in and by providing the NIC’s Chief Scientist. The October 2000, CoastWatch and the National NIC science branch has the mission to maintain Ocean Service issued the first known nowcast of a strategic vision for NIC operations and a harmful algal bloom (HAB) for the west coast recommend appropriate operational and of Florida. Ocean surface wind products from scientific investments and improved concepts for scatterometers, QuickSat on SeaWinds and operational processes. The Satellite SSM/I on DMSP, are also popular. These products are valuable in the Hawaiian Islands for sensing functions in NOAA. The main clearing marine debris from coral reefs and implementation pathway for this operational marine resource management. NOAA oceanography effort consists primarily of the CoastWatch has over 12,000 users and they NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch program. The receive approximately 2 GB/month of data, Satellite Oceanography Division does not covering all coastal areas of the continental normally undertake operational activities itself, United States, Alaska and Hawai’i. but rather works in conjunction with NOAA, other Historically, CoastWatch has operated in Government agencies, and international close collaboration with NOAA Laboratories and agencies. Offices to form CoastWatch regional Nodes in coastal locations throughout the United States. REFERENCES These CoastWatch Regional Nodes provide satellite data access assistance to users and are Brown, C.W., R.R. Hood, Z. Li, M.B. Decker, T. available for limited consultation on local F. Gross, J.E. Purcell, and H. V. Wang, scientific and technical issues. Starting in 2003, 2002. Forecasting system predicts presence NOAA CoastWatch is expanding geographic of sea nettles in Chesapeake Bay, EOS, coverage to include NOAA mission requirements 83:321-326. in the global ocean. While retaining the mission Cheney, R.E., 2001. Satellite altimetry, In: and responsibilities of NOAA CoastWatch, the Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, Academic program will gradually evolve into NOAA Press, London, pp. 2504-2510. OceanWatch. The scope of responsibilities will Clark, D. K., M. A. Yarbrough, M. Feinholz, S. begin to broaden in recognition of growing Flora, W. Broenkow, Y. S. Kim, B. C. requirements for operational oceanography and Johnson, S. W. Brown, M. Yuen, J. L. the growing role of satellite ocean remote Mueller, 2002. MOBY, A Radiometric Buoy sensing in that endeavor for Performance Monitoring and Vicarious Calibration of Satellite Ocean Color Sensors: 5. SUMMARY Measurement and Data Analysis Protocols. In: Ocean Optics Protocols for Satellite The Satellite Oceanography Division applies Ocean Color Sensor Validation, Rev 3, Vol remotely-sensed data received from operational 2. NASA/TM-2002-210004/Rev3-Vol2. and research satellites, other platforms, and in- Donnely, W.J., J.R. Carswell, R.E. McIntosh, situ data to infer the surface thermal distribution, P.S. Chang, J. Wilkerson, F. Marks, and surface winds and associated wave structure, P.G. Black, May 15, 1999. "Revised ocean bio-optical properties, marine pollution, backscatter models at C and Ku band under dynamical and geophysical properties, and the high-wind conditions", J. Geophys. Res., extent and properties of sea ice. The Satellite 104, 11485-11497. Oceanography Division conducts research using Jelenak, Z., L.N. Connor, and P.S. Chang, 2002. satellite and in-situ observations to understand "The accuracy of high resolution winds from various oceanic, coastal, climatic, marine QuikSCAT", IEEE International Geoscience weather, and wetland phenomena and and Remote Sensing Symposium, Toronto, processes. It conducts field experiments to Canada. assemble comparative data to validate satellite Maturi, E. and A.R. Harris. Assimilation of retrieval algorithms. The Satellite Oceanography Satellite Sea Surface Temperature Division cooperates with other components of Retrievals. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 84, NESDIS, NOAA, other U.S. Government 1575-1580. agencies, and international groups to develop Pichel, W. and P. Clemente-Colón, 2000. NOAA applications of satellite-derived coastal and CoastWatch SAR Applications and ocean properties relating to the physical, Demonstration: Status and Plans, JHU/APL dynamical, and biological understanding and Tech. Digest, Vol. 21(1), January-March modeling of coastal ocean circulation and 2000, 49-57. fisheries resources. To extend and leverage its Sandwell, D.T. and W.H.F. Smith, 2001. efforts, the Satellite Oceanography Division has Bathymetric estimation, In Satellite Altimetry recently formed the Cooperative Institute for and Earth Sciences, L.-L. Fu and A. Oceanographic Satellite Studies (CIOSS) at Cazenave, eds. Academic Press, San Diego, Oregon State University. CA, pp. 441-457. The Satellite Oceanography Division is the Strong, A. E., Gjovig, K. K., and E. Kearns, 2000. NESDIS focus for defining, developing, and Sea Surface Temperature Signals from supporting operational satellite ocean remote Satellites - An Update, Geophys. Res. Lett, 27 (11), 1667-1670. Wellington, G. M., P.W. Glynn, A. E. Strong, S. Navarrete and E. Wieters, 2001. Crisis on coral reefs linked to climate change, EOS, 82(1), 1 and 5.