Satellite Technology and the Study of Oceanography: How Satellites Are Used to Measure Sea Surface Temperature, Ocean Currents, and Sea Level
If you think satellites are only used for space exploration but not earth-based studies, then read this article. Satellite technology has played a key role in our understanding of oceanography. Here's an article that explains how satellite technology has helped the study of oceanography.
Blog List:
1. How Are satellites used in oceanography research?
2. What are the different types of data that are gathered by satellites to study oceanography?
3. How can oceanographers use satellite data to map out ocean currents?
4. Can satellites be used to determine sea surface temperature?
5. How can sea level be measured using satellite technology?
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1. How Are satellites used in oceanography research?
Satellites are useful in oceanography for various reasons. They can be used to measure large-scale phenomena, like currents and temperature. They can also be used to measure sea ice, which is important to understand the impact of climate change.
Water is a different kind of fluid than air, so water at a specific temperature is different from water at slightly different temperatures. Water also expands and contracts at different rates than air. Satellites can map water changes over time and among different regions for climatic and environmental monitoring.
2. Satellites can accurately map population movements Satellites can be used for population mapping. In this case, a satellite is tracking thousands of people, giving us a Rolodex of celebrities. Knowing that a movie about George Clooney will come out soon in a certain area is helpful information and will help increase sales.
Seeing such information is not possible for those watching Fox News when the weather report mentions a huge sandstorm moving towards Chicago. Satellites and weather satellites can and do provide timely information while avoiding the problems of misinformation, fake stories, and glued-to-camera problems seen in too many other media outlets.
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A look at the history of SXSW Interactive, including its 1984 debut record-breaking two-day run, while Janet Jackson was Janet Jackson, "the second coming" of Michael Jackson, Paul Stanley, Rick Moranis, Janeane Garofalo, and countless other acts.
3. Satellites can help estimate earthquakes Satellites can give accurate earthquake numbers. Want to know the earthquake danger in an area? You can put the location into Satellites Now and have the answer in as little as two minutes. Satellites will hover over the Earth and track tremors (great earthquakes as measured by U.S.)
2. What are the different types of data that are gathered by satellites to study oceanography?
There are different kinds of data that are gathered by satellites to study oceanography: 1) remote sensing: Satellites use remote sensing to measure water temperature and salinity, and to measure the amount of chlorophyll in the water. 2) altimetry: Satellites use altimetry to measure the height of the sea-surface. 3) differential temperature. The difference in temperature between two locations is expressed in degrees K. Some observations are free, and some are paid.
2. Media is stored in orbit (and does not have to go back to earth) Media such as movies, or whatever that passes through the media track can be stored in orbit, indefinitely. The media is not put into the lander, nor put into pre-launch processing. Media does not need power or light to operate, nor to be recharged.
There are many chemical compounds that are tracked through orbit, and so there might be job opportunities employing the data. All these properties of orbit are of extreme value in a space station, as they are in most commercial enterprises.
3. Vehicles have to land (no, really) This seems obvious, but the soundtrack, photo, video, and books do not have to be in orbit. A flight could carry such materials to earth, but land it on another planet. This allows the goods to travel faster (no need to fly back and forth like the space shuttle), but requires landing sites and resupply. The result is that goods can be moved around the universe more quickly, but also at a much smaller cost.
4. Resupply needs can be measured regarding distance traveled Usually, commercial space flights stay in orbit for up to a year, but must leave Earth for months or even years at a time. In that time a vehicle may have to reenter the atmosphere, but the vehicle can return. Thus liftoff and reentry cost money.
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3. How can oceanographers use satellite data to map out ocean currents?
Satellite data can help map out ocean currents and surface temperatures because satellites can measure and record the temperature and salinity of the water. The salinity and temperature information can then be used to calculate the movement of the water and the currents.
The trouble is that accurate and consistent satellite data is incredibly expensive. Monitoring nine sites requires extremely expensive hardware and is not practical regarding resource allocation. Because of this, researchers have come up with two alternate methods of measuring water temperatures: the dermo-cleanser, which is slightly more expensive, and indirect methods like tefLon.
2. Someday, Google wants to create a new image search engine - everything from the search query itself to our subjects' passions and personalities is now being mapped: crime rates, house prices, income, age, and even taste in art and fashion (maybe?). Someday, Google may realize just how rich that information would be in products like search and images.
3. Text is super easy to understand There will always be new formatting options as rational consumers want their information presented in an appealing way. And as more devices (read: screens) get connected to the internet, human brains are beginning to comprehend text just as they understand speech. The average person can now, with greater accuracy, understand text, and if a company wants to wrap text into a form that appeals to web users, they can just throw in some new formatting and call it a day.
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4. Can satellites be used to determine sea surface temperature?
Yes, satellites can be used to determine sea surface temperature. Satellites use microwave energy to measure temperature. The microwave energy bounces off the sea surface and back to the satellite, which measures the temperature of the water. Over time, the water will increase or decrease by about 6oC (11oF). The temperature change is called a signal, and it indicates the temperature of the water.
2. Sea ice forms in the water Yes, sea ice forms in the water, and satellites can see this. The microwave energy bounces off the ocean and back to the satellite, which sends that signal to the ice. Over time, the ice begins to melt and forms calcium carbonate, which forms the basis for new calcium carbonate shells on the ocean floor.
3. Animals migrate across the ocean to different locations Yes, animals may migrate across the ocean to find food or a breeding ground. They may even migrate across the ocean when there is a major hurricane going at 30 miles per hour or greater. When they get to their destination, they disperse and begin a new life somewhere else. The microwave signal that is sent out by these animals follows a path that is different from the one that the land animals use. They might get lucky and travel straight to a gold mine, or they might find a patch of desert that is not getting any precipitation and are forced to forage in the heat a bit more.
5. How can sea level be measured using satellite technology?
The global sea level is measured using satellite altimeters. These are specialized satellite instruments that measure the distance between the satellite and the sea surface, which can then be used to calculate sea level. The satellites are calibrated using ground-based radar measurements of the surface topography of the Earth.
Altimeter measurement of sea level and magnetic anomaly around Cape Horn, North Africa
Satellites can’t travel faster than 17,800 km/h, so sea level can be measured by comparing how the ocean height changes as you slow down the satellite. The data is then compared with data from ground-based radar stations which measure changes in elevation.
The table below shows locations where measurements of sea level are undertaken (exact locations depend on the business audience — some volumes are for smaller towns and cities, but most measurements will be for large towns and seas): World locations that use sea level measurements for navigation
While most of these areas (and the altimeter measurements) are from coastal locations, it is possible to find measurements for much of the ocean floor which are valuable to users who use navigation on the ocean floor.
When measuring sea level, always remove zigzag lines from rectilinear sections. For example, you would not want to record a measurement for high tide in Maryland, but a measurement for high tide in Galveston, Texas.
It is also very important to note that altimeter measurements for side-looking open seas (like those in the Gulf of Mexico) will be slightly different because the satellite doesn’t move much during the observation period. Whenever possible, you should use altimeter measurements wherever possible.
However, if measured atop a mountain, avoid zigzag lines and instead use straight lines to avoid measurement drift. You can then use the results of the measurements to form a bottom bracket height. The table below shows several locations where Gage towers are used to record data.
Pro tip: As with altimeters, measurements are only valid for the specific time being recorded.
Tower measurements around Mt.
Conclusion: Satellite technology has played a key role in our understanding of oceanography, and it will continue to play a key role in the future of understanding this vital part of our planet.
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