Chlorophyll a Distribution Deduced from MODIS Ocean Color Data and its Characteristics around Hyuganada

The Aqua satellite loaded with MODIS system surveys visible and infrared radiation in 36 wave bands, providing simultaneous images of chlorophyll a concentration and sea surface temperature (SST) in the upper layer of the sea. For the first time, synoptic chlorophyll a concentration data and SST images become to be available. The purpose of this paper is to explore the advantage of ocean color data from MODIS including chlorophyll a concentration and SST to interpret the oceanographic processes. This research was performed in Hyuganada located in the east coast of Kyushu Island. The synoptic image of chlorophyll a concentration and SST was found to be a great tool to understand the interaction between water temperature and biological process. From the chlorophyll a image deduced from MODIS data, we could recognize the front of water mass in summer more clearly than from the SST images. The eddy could be interpreted well by the chlorophyll a images. By the particle image velocimetry (PIV) analysis, the chlorophyll a images could be used to make out ocean flow field including direction and velocity of the current. The seasonal changes of the chlorophyll a concentration are also discussed