Ocean Altimetry Data: Operational Users and Applications

Margaret SrinivasanAltimeter Applications LeadJet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of Technology

Robert LebenAssociate Research ProfessorColorado Center for Astrodynamics ResearchUniversity of Colorado

Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting12 March 2007Hobart, Australia

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

Acknowledgements

Dr. Robert Leben, University of Colorado CCAR

Vinca Rosmorduc, CLS

Annie Richardson, JPL

Jason, Project Management

Ocean Surface Topography Science Team members

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

Web sites; JPL Societal benefits, AVISOCCAR Applications, NRT NOAA’s TCHPNRL

Getting the word

out…

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

Conferences…SWT meetingsAGU Oceans

Getting the word

out…

“Operational Applications of Ocean Satellite Observations”

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

University of Colorado CCAR Partnership

Partnership: 12 years, NASA/JPL TP/Jason project funding

Products: Near real-time, historical, Google Earth overlays (devel.)

Data Sources: Jason, Envisat, GFO, TOPEX/Poseidon & ERS

(historical), also SST & ocean color

Distribution: http://argo.colorado.edu/~realtime/welcome/

Users: Researchers, recreational boaters, offshore O&G,

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

CCAR - Google Earth

Keyhole Markup Language (KML) Files generated on CCAR NRT web page http://argo.colorado.edu/~realtime/welcome/.

Using Google Earth as a data browser

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

CCAR - Google Earth

Keyhole Markup Language (KML) files generated for display on Google Earth (4 March 2007 image).

Sample SSH Image Viewed with Google Earth

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CCAR - Google Earth

Global coverage, hurricane tracking

CCAR SSH: March 4th, 2007

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CCAR - Google Earth

Hurricane track overlays SSH

CCAR SSH with “hurricane live” positions of Tropical Cyclone George

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GHRSST zoom

CCAR - Google Earth

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MODIS Ocean Color: 8-day composite zoom

CCAR - Google Earth

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Intra-Americas Sea Trials

SSH forecast for 21 Jan 2007 from the ROMS modeling system, run in real-time on board the Royal Caribbean International vessel Explorer of the Seas. The black line shows the vessel’s cruise path.

• University of California, Santa Cruz researchers assimilating CCAR SSH into a Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) for data assimilation and ocean prediction in the IAS, emphasizing the Caribbean Sea.• Partners: University of Miami, NOAA, NSF, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line• Cruise ship, Explorer of the Seas, equipped with oceanic and atmospheric sensors, for continuous observation along two cruise tracks that circumnavigate the Caribbean Sea once every two weeks.• Sea trials on board the Explorer during January and February 2007.•http://marine.rutgers.edu/po/ias

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

Hilton’s Realtime Navigator

CCAR SSH and ocean color overlay hosted by the Realtime-Navigator website.

• Private company provides fishing charts and atlas

• Large game fish (marlin, tuna)

• Offshore Gulf of Mexico

• Altimeter and ocean color data maps provided via CCAR

• CCAR produces daily sea surface height and chlorophyll concentration maps (MODIS) for 10 regions in the Gulf and along the Atlantic Coast.

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

Ocean color & SSH view ocean eddies

A. Fong, U. Hawaii

Hindcast SSH contours on chlorophyll concentration (MODIS). Note anticyclonic eddy with high chlorophyll concentration.

• U. Hawaii at Manoa researcher studies the spatial and temporal abundances of nitrogen-fixing bacteria

• May play an important role in open-ocean biogeochemical cycling

• SSH + MODIS data (from CCAR) in region of enhanced chlorophyll north of Oahu

• The feature was coincident with the decay of an anti-cyclonic eddy.

• NRT and hind-cast data allowed tracking and sampling of the feature for both biogeochemical and biological parameters.

• Progression of this and similar feature was tracked, providing compelling evidence for increased productivity due to these mesoscale features. 

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November 2006 El Niño

Global climate events

February 2007 La Niña

Extended time series monitoring El Niño and La Niña Media use images to explain weather and climate to the public

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Ocean Racers & Ocean Researchers

Volvo Ocean Race - Geostrophic currents and drift trajectories, G.Goni, NOAA

Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, D. Griffin, CSIRO

•Data distributed to the racing teams for information on (un)favorable currents or winds to

optimize routes and navigate safely.

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Not just for data users…

• Content and activities for formal and informal education

• Unique concepts highlighted for education community as resource for teaching ocean awareness and ocean science; K-12, general public

• NASA/JPL and CNES/AVISO collaborate to widen the reach of activities, become a resource for SWT participation.

• Products and activities: web sites, Toolbox, online activities, posters, Argonautica, CDs, literature, school programs, exhibit materials, more…

Book Cover

Board Game

Jr. Oceanographer QuizBook mark

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•NASA/JPL Ocean Surface Topography from Space - Societal Benefits http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/science/soc-benefits.html

Web resources

•AVISO Yellow Pages page - http://www.aviso.oceanobs.com/yp/

Monthly Features, Literature Database,…

Yellow Pages, Image of the Month,…

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• Consider potential and operational applications of your research

• Estimate the economic/practical effects/benefits

• Get your story out into the public domain

Spread the word

OSTST Meeting, 12 March 2007, M. Srinivasan

• Consider potential and operational applications of your research

• Estimate the economic/practical effects/benefits

• Get your story out into the public domain

Spread the word

Thank you.