Oceanography (Dec 2010)
Study of Marine Ecosystems and Biogeochemistry Now and in the Future: Examples of the Unique Contributions from Space
Abstract
Ocean color remote sensing has profoundly influenced how oceanographers think about marine ecosystems and their variability in space and time. Satellite ocean color radiometry (OCR) provides a unique perspective for studying the processes regulating marine ecosystems and biogeochemistry at scales difficult to study with ships and moorings. Satellite OCR is especially useful when supported by other in situ and space observations. In this review, we highlight three important and unique contributions of satellite observations related to marine ecosystems and biogeochemical processes: understanding the responses of ocean ecosystems to physical processes operating at meso- to global scales, coupled physical-ecosystem-biogeochemical modeling, and marine living resources management.
