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SATELLITE OCEANOGRAPHY DATA LAB

 
 


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GoMOOS - Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System

Funded by: Office of Naval Research, Deptartment of Defense
Principal Investigator: Neal Pettigrew
Co-Principal Investigators: Mary Kate Beard, Vijay Panchang, Andrew Thomas, David Townsend, Huijie Xue
School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine

Lewis S. Incze, Collin Roesler
Bigelow Laboratory of Ocean Sciences

James Irish
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute


Introduction:
A consortium of Maine research institutions, non-profit organizations, state agencies and commercial interests has developed plans for the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS). It was proposed as a concept demonstration of an integrated, sustained ocean observing system that will serve as a pilot component of the North East Ocean Observing System (NEOOS). The NEOOS is in turn planned as one of approximately six regional observing systems envisioned to constitute a national observing system. GoMOOS is an entity that will build, deploy, operate, transmit/process/archive data, and maintain the infrastructure required to do this. The data and information produced will allow those who depend on the Gulf of Maine for livelihood and well-being, and those whose business is marine research, to undertake their pursuits and enhance the understanding of the Gulf more effectively and profitably than ever before. The goal of GoMOOS is to provide the data the public and private sectors need to resolve problems, predict events and to further understand the natural system relating to the Gulf of Maine.

The Satellite Oceanography Data Lab's Role:
Together with CODAR (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Coastal Radar), satellite data are a principal means of obtaining operational synoptic coverage of the GOM region, thus helping to place in situ time series measurements in spatial context. In addition, historical archives of satellite data provide a temporal context for in situ data of shorter duration and make possible comparisons of real time observation to a climatological database. Four satellite data streams are viewed as critical to GoMOOS (AVHRR, SeaWiFS, MODIS, and QuikSCAT). These data streams provide sea-surface temperature, ocean color, and surface wind monitoring capability. The choice of these four data streams is based upon a combination of their suitability for monitoring signals critical to the program, the maturity of the data products that result, and the ease and cost of access and handling. The Satellite Oceanography Data Laboratory is responsible for processing and archiving of all the satellite data sets used in GoMOOS.

To view the satellite imagery GoMOOS uses, follow the Satellite Images link on this website.

For more GoMOOS information, click here.