COAST WATCH´95: upper ocean features from ERS SAR imagery

In order to quantify the mesoscale upper ocean and atmospheric boundary layer processes, a tandem ERS-1/2 ESA AO experiment was carried out off the south-western coast of Norway during September 1995. A unique integrated data set was collected, including SAR coverage (148 scenes) in the ERS-1/2 tandem mode, an extensive set of oceanographic and meteorological variables from the R/V Hakon Mosby of the University of Bergen, met-ocean parameters from state-of-the-art metocean buoys, and natural slick sampling with two radio-controlled “mini research vessels”. Also ATSR and NOAHH AVHRR data was obtained during the experiment. Analysis from this comprehensive integrated experiment is reported (in this paper and references), in particular a brief examination of a) coastal jet and currents, b) surface slicks and c) wind front. Features in the SAR images are discussed in terms of ABL stratification, coastal wind field retrieval, surface slick detection and in situ measurements of oceanographical and meteorological parameters. The authors have also focused on advantages of ERS-1 and ERS-2 tandem operation, and synergetic use of different spaceborne sensors in coastal applications