Understanding marine areas using satellites

Monthly averaged satellite oceanographic data during January (peak of winter downwelling period), and July (upwelling period). Note the changes near the coast (black line is the border of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary). (Credits Noaa)

Marine Protected Areas have been instituted around the world during the last decades or so. The Olympic Coast Marine Protected Area, on the West coast of United States (near Seattle) was established in 1994. Assessing the oceanographic environment of such protected areas, and how it varies on a seasonal scale (at first) is an important step to evaluate future trends, and better understand the marine plants and animals.

Using long series of satellite data ("climatologies"), comparing different ocean parameters (sea surface height and their anomalies, geostrophic current velocities, sea surface temperature, wind speed, chlorophyll content, turbidity...) enable to produce site characterizations and evaluations of (in particular) Marine Protected Areas.

Ongoing projects are improving altimetry data near the coasts (see e.g. experimental Coastal and Hydrology products). However, conclusions can already be made from altimetry data on areas such as the Olympic Coast Marine Protected Area. Future mission will also improve the availability of data closer to land.

Phenomena underlying the ocean dynamics in the Olympic Coast Marine Protected area in January and July. In July, more light induces more phytoplancton. River discharge also varies, as well as wind speed and direction. All this makes a different panorama depending on the season. These schemes were deduced from studying the whole different satellite oceanographic datasets for surface processes (Credits Noaa).