U.S. Naval Academy Spring Semester 2007 Remote Sensing Class:Research Project Utilizing Giovanni - East Box

Research Project Results – East Box

Cmdr. Petruncio used the East Box as the example for the class to emulate. The East Box is located near the boundary of where the southern Kuroshio Current is an influence on oceanic water properties. 

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Chl a and SST plot (left): Chl a (black) in the East Box was negatively correlated with SST (green).   Correlation coefficient (calculated with Giovanni) = -0.796. This observation indicates chl a was highest during the winter months. 

nLw(551) and SST plot (right):  nLw(551) is somewhat positively correlated with SST in the East Box, with a correlation coefficient of +0.548. The nLw(551) variability range is very small compared to coastal waters, because the East Box is in very clear water year-round. This observation of nLw(551) variability does not have a clearly obvious cause. 

Chl a, K490, and nLw(551) plot:   Chl a, in black, and K490, in green, have a very strong positive correlation here (+0.964).   Note that chl a is very low in these open ocean waters, ranging from 0.05 to 0.13 mg m-3.  Because these are open ocean waters, it is likely that phytoplankton are the main influence on K490. nLw(551), in red, and K490, have a weak negative correlation (-0.2).  [The correlation between chl a and nLw(551) was not calculated, but it would likely be a similar value.] The identity of the substances or particles causing the variability of nLw(551) here is an interesting problem – in fact, examination of the 8-day SeaWiFS data indicates that nLw(551) varies considerably over short time intervals, and due to the low values of nLw(551), some of this variability could be due to the difficulty of atmospheric correction in the presence of aerosols (pollution and dust from China and Taiwan) and exact determination of water-leaving radiance values in very clear waters. 

Introduction -- East -- North -- West -- South