COAST WATCH-95: ERS-1/2 SAR applications of mesoscale upper ocean and atmospheric boundary layer processes off the coast of Norway

The ERS SAR sensors have demonstrated their capability for imaging ocean waves, internal waves, underwater topography, eddies, fronts, natural slicks, oil slicks, and atmospheric features in the marine boundary layer such as wind. 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 the month of September 1995. A unique integrated data set was collected, including extensive SAR coverage 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, metocean parameters from state-of-the-art metocean buoys, and natural slick sampling with two radio-controlled “mini research vessels”. Analysis from this very comprehensive integrated experiment is reported, quantifying coastal jets, ocean fronts, natural slicks, wind velocity, wind fronts and rain showers from SAR imaging