Abstract :
The ocean is an important component of the globalenvironment and must not be ignored in the assessmentof environmental risks, even when attention is focusedon land surface issues. This paper addresses the useof space techniques for remote sensing of the ocean,in the context of how marine environmental risks maybe monitored. Since there are several significantdifferences between remote sensing over land and oversea, the techniques specific to ocean observation arefirst reviewed, identifying what can be measured fromspace and what are the sampling capabilities andinherent limitations. Ocean environmental risks arethen identified at global, regional and local scales,and serve as examples of how space techniques can beused to address them. Finally operationalenvironmental monitoring and risk management is shownto require an integrated approach using models andmeasurements from space and at sea.
