Satellite Characterization of Bio-Optical and Thermal Variability in the Japan/East Sea

The goal is to understand the physical and optical processes occurring of the Japan/East Sea through the use of satellite thermal and ocean color remote sensing. We have created a climatology of the inherent optical properties (IOP’s) using SeaWiFS satellite imagery to define how the bio-optical cycle is driven by the physical processes and circulation. OBJECTIVES Our objective is to understand the coupling between the physical processes and the bio-optical processes in the Japan/East Sea basin, and their variability. We describe the surface circulation and how it influences changing bio-optical properties from January 1998 until March of 2000 through the use of satellite sea surface temperature and ocean color. We will examine the monthly variability of bio-optical and thermal properties of water masses to define the major currents of the basin (East Korean Warm Current, Subpolar Front, Tsushima Warm Current, and northern basin waters). We will follow the evolution of the seasonal phytoplankton bloom as it spread throughout the basin and determine how these blooms are influenced of meteorological forcing and sea surface temperature. We will further determine the basin variability of bio-optical properties (absorption coefficients due to chlorophyll and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and backscattering coefficient) for thi