INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN OCEANOGRAPHY (ITO-98)

GOA, INDIA 12-16 OCTOBER 1998

Generation of Ocean Information Using Remote Sensing Technology with eference To Sea Surface Temperature in the north Indian Ocean

S. K. SASMAL, M.V. RAO, K.H.RAO, S.B.CHAUDHARY, AND I.V. RAMANA
Oceanography Group, NRSA, Hyderabad-500 037

Weather and climatic disturbances leading to warming or cooling, flood or drought, El Nino or La Nino are related to Sea surface Temperature (SST). Indian subcontinent located in tropical region of the north Indian Ocean and engulfed with Arabian Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east, has considerable significance on the changes in SST. SST plays a vital role in air-sea interaction and also from the basic input to numerical models for climate and other ocean studies. The data from NOAA-AVHRR sensor is being processed since early 1991 at National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) at Hyderabad for retrieval of SSTs in near real time basis. Multi-channel algorithm for SST is followed with global regression coefficients for computation of SSTs. The procedure adopted for generation of daily, weekly and monthly SSTs and its validation is discussed. The satellite derived SSTs compared with those of in-situ observation are found to be better than 1"C with rms deviation of +/- 0.850C. Similar comparisons made on seasonal basis are discussed in detail including errors due to various factors. The SST over the north Indian Ocean including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are analysed for their seasonal and yearly variations. The oceanic processes like, cooling and warming of surface waters, upwelling, gyres, eddies and circulation are discussed on the basis of change in SST during the last five years. Signatures observed in SSTs on upwelling off the coast of Somalia and the Saudi Arabia, and western boundary currents in the Bay of Bengal are discussed. The monthly averaged data analysed from January 1995 to April 1998 indicated warming in pre-monsoon months in comparison to the previous year. This has been related to changing conditions of monsoon over the area. Future trends on retrieval of similar products from satellite data and associated parameters are discussed. Scope of integrating such information extracted from satellite technology is expected to boost information technology in oceanography.

[ITO - 98] [Welcome] [1998 - Internetional Year of the Oceans] [Objectives of ITO-98] [Plenary Lectures] [Technical Sessions] [Commercial/Corporate Presentation] [Exhibition/Demonstration] [Ocean IT CDROM] [Awards/Financial Assistance] [Fees / Charges] [Souvenir] [Post Symposium Event] [International Scientific Programme Committee] [Organizing Committee] [Schedule] [Scientific Programme Summary] [The Host] [Travelling / Accomodation] [Registration Forms] [Abstracts]

"to continously improve our understanding of the seas
around us and to translate this knowledge to benefit all"