How satellites help us better understand Earth’s oceans

How satellites help us better understand Earth’s oceans Today’s Video of the Day comes from the European Space Agency’s Earth from Space series and features a look at how the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite mission provides crucial information about Earth’s oceans.

According to Craig Donlon, Sentinel-3 mission scientist, the multi-instrumented mission allows scientists to observe ocean color and biology, along with wind patterns, and the exchange of CO2 between the water and atmosphere.

Additionally, the satellites offer information about ocean temperature and circulation that can better inform weather forecasts. Using satellites, NOAA researchers can also more closely study the ocean. Information gathered by these satellites can tell us about ocean bathymetry, sea surface temperature, ocean color, coral reefs, and sea and lake ice. Satellites provide other services beyond just imaging the earth.

NASA satellites help scientists study Earth and space. Satellites looking toward Earth provide information about clouds, oceans, land and ice. They also measure gases in the atmosphere, such as ozone and carbon dioxide, and the amount of energy that Earth absorbs and emits. How satellites help us better understand Earth’s oceans as shown above will show you the changes in the enviornment.

Scientists at NASA’s Langley Research Center use several satellites now in orbit to measure some very specific atmospheric phenomena, such as the amount of ozone in the atmosphere, and to help them distinguish between environmental changes caused by humans and those that occur naturally.

—

By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)