Can internal tidal waves be observed by ocean color satellite sensors?

J.C.B. da Silva1, A.L. New2, M. Srokosz2
1Department of Physics and Institute of Oceanography, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
2James Rennel Division, Southampton Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK

Tóm tắt

Reveals bands of enhanced levels of near-surface chlorophyll in the central Bay of Biscay in remotely-sensed images from the SeaWiFS ocean colour sensor, and shows that these are most probably associated with the crests of internal tidal waves travelling away from the shelf break. We are able to explain this effect as likely to result from the uplifting of a subsurface chlorophyll maximum by the passing internal tides, to such a level as may be "seen" by the satellite sensor, and have quantified the effect with a simple model. We believe this is the first time that internal tidal waves have been reported as having a direct and observable effect in such remotely-sensed ocean colour images.

Từ khóa

#Satellites #Tides #Remote sensing #Image sensors #Ocean temperature #Physics #Surface waves #Sea surface #Surface topography #Dispersion

Tài liệu tham khảo

new, 2001, Remote-sensing evidence for the local generation of internal soliton packets in the central Bay of Biscay, accepted, Deep-Sea Research 10.1016/S0079-6611(99)00049-X 10.3354/meps005359 10.1016/0967-0637(94)00041-P 10.1038/321154a0