During 1975, westward-moving long waves with a period of about 25 days and a wavelength of 1000 kilometers were observed at a sea surface temperature front in the equatorial Pacific on infrared images obtained by a geostationary environmental satellite system. The absence of these waves during 1976, and the above-average equatorial sea surface temperatures during 1976, may be related to a decrease in the southeasterly trade winds during that year.
Satellite measurements of sea surface temperatures (SST) were made in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean during March 1985. Unusually persistent upwelling was observed southwest of the Gulf of Panama and Gulf of Papagayo from March 7 to 22. The SST was depressed by 6° to 10°C relative to the surrounding waters. The cooler waters off Panama extended southwestward for over 1000 km and reached the Galapagos Islands. The northern SST front off Panama was wavelike in appearance, and long waves of 600‐km length moved southwestward at a phase speed of about 30 km/d. These waves resemble the long waves that appear each year along the northern boundaries of the equatorial SST fronts in the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. The SST fronts off the Gulf of Papagayo remained relatively stationary, with a large area of colder water centered at 88°W and 10°N. During these events, the upwelling off the Gulf of Tehuantepec was relatively weak. These satellite observations provide a view of an unusual oceanic response on the leeward side of mountain pass wind jets.
The recent improvement of infrared scanners on the polar and geostationary environmental satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has enabled the detection of many sea surface temperature fronts associated with ocean currents and upwelling. The present capabilities and limitations of these satellites in ocean applications are summarized. Examples of infrared imagery are used to illustrate the horizontal temperature distribution at the ocean thermal fronts. It is postulated that future improvements in satellite systems will increase further our capability to detect ocean fronts.
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