MFSPP-WP3000 : Project


SPACE OCEANOGRAPHY MFSPP WP 3000 Near Real Time Remote Sensing Data Collection and Analysis
Objectives Participants Planning Task structure Data processing Data products Publications Links

CLS is specifically in charge of the WP3000. The principal investigator will be Pierre-Yves Le Traon, in particular for the related altimeter tasks ( task 3100 and subtask 3310). Other people involved in the project will be G.Larnicol, and G.Dibarboure.

The objective is to set up and test a near real time acquisition and processing system of remote sensing data for the Mediterranean sea. The system will be based on existing facilities and will serve as a prototype for a future operational system. NRT remote sensing (altimetry, SST, ocean color) data will provide unique data sets for the setting up of an operational Mediterranean Forecasting System. Specific objectives are to :

develop and test of algorithms to process NRT altimeter data

develop a NRT Sea Surface Temperature product

provideNRT remote sensing data before (TOP-2 and TOP-1) and during the TOP

analyze remote sensing data during the TOP.

Sea Level Anomaly

Satellite altimetry provides a unique contribution for the observation of the sea level and oceanic circulation in the Mediterranean sea. This has been demonstrated as part of the previous MAST programs (Larnicol et al., 1995, Ayoub et al., 1997; Le Traon and Gauzelin, 1997). T/P and ERS-2 will be available for MFSPP. ERS-2 and T/P successors ( ENVISAT and JASON ) will be launched by the year 2000 which should assure a continuity.

Ocean color provides in an indirect way a measurement of phytoplankton concentration. "Chlorophyll" algorithms have been developed and successfully applied to the Mediterranean Sea to produce maps of chlorophyll concentration and of primary production (e.g. Antoine et al., 1995). For MFSPP, SEAWIFS data will be available. This new sensor will allow a more quantitative use of ocean color data.

Ocean color

Sea Surface Temperature

SST is also a fundamental ocean parameter which can be measured form space. SST measurements are crucial for understanding and predicting the ocean/atmosphere system. At small scales, SST measurements can provide useful information on mesoscale ocean flow field (same for ocean color). SST is operationally measured by the NOAA satellites ( AVHRR ).

The proposal will benefit from some past and present MAST/MTP projects in the Mediterranean sea, such as MERMAIDS in MAST-II and MATER in MAST-III. The objectives of these programmes are different of the objectives of MFSPP: they are centered on improving our understanding of the physical and ecological processes in the Mediterranean.
The real time processing of altimeter data will benefit from developments performed as part of the CEO Environment and Climate DUACS project (coordination CLS). The ocean color processing and interpretation will use results from the Environment and Climate COASTLOOC project (coordination ACRI).

Objectives
Participants
Planning
Task structure
Data processing
Data products
Publications
Links

Copyright © 1999 CLS. All rights reserved.

	Sea Level Anomaly		Satellite altimetry provides a unique contribution for the observation of the sea level and oceanic circulation in the Mediterranean sea. This has been demonstrated as part of the previous MAST programs (Larnicol et al., 1995, Ayoub et al., 1997; Le Traon and Gauzelin, 1997). T/P and ERS-2 will be available for MFSPP. ERS-2 and T/P successors ( ENVISAT and JASON ) will be launched by the year 2000 which should assure a continuity.
	Ocean color provides in an indirect way a measurement of phytoplankton concentration. "Chlorophyll" algorithms have been developed and successfully applied to the Mediterranean Sea to produce maps of chlorophyll concentration and of primary production (e.g. Antoine et al., 1995). For MFSPP, SEAWIFS data will be available. This new sensor will allow a more quantitative use of ocean color data.		Ocean color
	Sea Surface Temperature		SST is also a fundamental ocean parameter which can be measured form space. SST measurements are crucial for understanding and predicting the ocean/atmosphere system. At small scales, SST measurements can provide useful information on mesoscale ocean flow field (same for ocean color). SST is operationally measured by the NOAA satellites ( AVHRR ).