New Ocean Technology

Satellite TechnologyKelsey Loucks

Ocean CurrentsAccording to Wikipedia, ocean surface currents are continuous, directed movement of ocean water produced by a number of forces acting upon the water.These forces include: Earth’s rotation Wind Temperature Salinity Gravitation of the moon Depth of ocean water Shoreline

Ocean Currents

Ocean surface currents help scientists determine:

Direction of wind-useful for travel

Climate-useful for predicting weather patterns

Marine biology-useful for identifying typical marine life found in the various environments within each current system

Ocean CurrentsThe first ocean surface current to be measured was the Gulf Stream, found in the Atlantic Ocean

Benjamin Franklin was the first scientist to chart the Gulf Stream in the 1770s

Observation and temperature calculation was the first form of technology used to chart ocean currents

History of TechnologyMooring technique followed the observational data

Moored instruments are set in the ocean at various depths and distances

Data is retrieved by ship from an acoustic signal and accurately measures ocean current

History of Technology

Current Meters were the next type of technology

Current meters measure the velocity of water

There are various types of current meters, but all generally operate using the same principle

History of TechnologyWave Radar was the next developed form of current technology

Various wave radar techniques have been developed to measure ocean currents

Of these types, the HF radar is one of the more commonly used radars that measure ocean currents

HF Radar

HF Radar has proven to be widely efficient in measuring ocean currents

However, HF Radar has a 15 minute delay of measuring and recording ocean currents

Ideally scientists wanted to develop a technology that would produce real time data

Technologies used to measure ocean currents

New Satellite RadarNew satellite radar technique was the result scientists were looking for

The satellite radar uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments that record microwave radar backscatter

Doppler shift of the electromagnetic waves reflected from the water surface is also used in the satellite

About Satellite Radar

The Doppler shift occurs due to changing velocities

The Doppler shift occurs because of three factors

Motion between the satellite platform Rotation of the Earth Velocity of the SAR backscatter from the water

IMPLICATIONS: scientists are able to determine how surface winds and currents contribute to the Doppler shift producing accurate ocean currents

Advantages

Using satellite radar, oceanographers can better understand: Strength and variability of

currents Relevance currents have

with climate change

The technology employed by the radar satellite has also improved 3-dimensional ocean models

Future TechnologyOceanographers have already begun developing other satellite technology

Sentinel-1 is expected for launch in 2011

It uses similar principles as the satellite radar to provide rapid accurate information 24/7

A great benefit to this developing technology is its ability to operate in crisis situations

ConclusionSatellite radar is beneficial

Helpful with weather and climate predictions

Useful for studying biology and land forecasting in a given environment or current system

Real time data provides immediate, accurate results for scientists and the public

Able to predict the transportation of pollutants

Satellite radar has paved the way for increasing technology in the field of ocean currents

Overall research, data and results of the ocean that were once extremely limited to observation are now possible from space in seconds