Satellite Oceanic Observations for the 80´s

Satellite measurements of ocean surface features matured in the late 1970´s through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration research satellite program. Two programs in particular, Seasat and Nimbus-7, will be reviewed in this plan with emphasis on the measurement and application of satellite derived ocean-surface windfields, waves, temperature, topography, circulation, and color. The sensors required to make the measurements include: microwave altimeters, scatterometers, and synthetic aperture radars; and radiometers which operate in the microwave, infrared and visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. With the successes of satellite oceanic observations of the recent past, application of this technology during the 1980´s will be reviewed with specific emphasis on the potential National Oceanic Satellite System, a system to be jointly implemented in a tri-agency program supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce.