Physical and Bio-Optical Processes in the Gulf of Mexico -- Linking Real-Time Circulation Models and Satellite Bio-Optical and SST Properties

Presented at the International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments (8th), held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 17-19 May 2005. Prepared in collaboration with Planning Systems, Inc., Stennis Space Center, MS, and with Science Applications Directorate, Stennis Space Center, MS. The original document contains color images.

Ocean circulation is shown to influence the bio-optical properties in open and coastal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. 3-dimensional physical ocean properties of temperature, salinity, and currents determined from the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) are being combined with daily "latest pixel composite" satellite properties (phytoplankton, CDOM and detritus absorption and backscattering and SST) The coupling of these data sources provides supportive evidence of the degree which physical processes influence bio-optical processes in the surface ocean. NCOM assimilates daily SST along with synthetic temperature and salinity profiles from MODIS and is forced by surface COAMPS winds. Ocean color and SST from Sea WIFS and MODIS (Terra aqua) provide daily real-time observations. We demonstrate the response of the Mississippi River plume (observed through bio-optical signatures), to coastal advection and eddy circulation. We observe that divergent and convergent regions in the model show a strong bio-optical response (growth and decay of phytoplankton) in the imagery. Furthermore, particle tracking in the model is used to follow different river discharges and track the corresponding bio-optical response in the imagery. Using effective methods, these combined data sources provide new tools for coastal managers in assessing and predicting HABS, hypoxia and freshwater impacts.