The paper gives an overview of the development of satellite oceanography over the past five years focusing on the most relevant issues for operational oceanography. Satellites provide key essential variables to constrain ocean models and/or serve downstream applications. New and improved satellite data sets have been developed and have directly improved the quality of operational products. The status of the satellite constellation for the last five years was, however, not optimal. Review of future missions shows clear progress and new research and development missions with a potentially large impact for operational oceanography should be demonstrated. Improvement of data assimilation techniques and developing synergetic use of high resolution satellite observations are important future priorities.
Combination of the hydrographic and satellite-derived Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data provides new evidence for the existence of four upwelling-related Low Temperature Zones (LTZs) in the Taiwan Strait in summer. These LTZs are located along the southwestern coast of the Tai wan Strait (SW-LTZ), along the northwestern coast of the Taiwan Strait (NW-LTZ), near the Taiwan Bank (TB-LTZ) and around the Penghu Is lands (PH-LTZ), respectively. The hydrographic data from three August cruises during 1997-1999 show that these LTZs also possess relatively higher salinity (greater than 34) at the surface layer. Four years of higher resolu tion A VHRR satellite-derived SST data clearly indicate the summertime pattern of these upwelling-related LTZs and demonstrate their inter-an nual and inter-monthly variability.(
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