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Three-dimensional observations from MODIS and CALIPSO for ocean responses to cyclone Nargis in the Gulf of Martaban

Shi, W., and M. Wang (2008), Three-dimensional observations from MODIS and CALIPSO for ocean responses to cyclone Nargis in the Gulf of Martaban, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L21603, doi:10.1029/2008GL035279.

Abstract:

Satellites measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on Aqua and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) are used to study physical, optical, and biological changes in the Gulf of Martaban following the passage of cyclone Nargis during early May of 2008. The shortwave infrared (SWIR) atmospheric correction algorithm has been used to derive ocean optical and biological properties from MODIS. Following the passage of cyclone Nargis, a significant increase of surface sediment concentration is observed with considerably enhanced normalized water-leaving radiance at the red and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths in the Gulf of Martaban and along the mouths of the Ayeyarwady River. It is estimated that, before and after cyclone Nargis, the average total suspended matter (TSM) in the Gulf of Martaban increased from 24 mg/l to 31 mg/l, while the TSM value nearly tripled from 12 mg/l to 34 mg/l along the mouths of the Ayeyarwady River. The CALIPSO measurements also show that, before cyclone Nargis, the sediment concentration in the region increases with depth in the water column, while after cyclone Nargis the sediment vertical profile becomes relatively uniform in the upper 50 m depth due to wind-driven vertical mixing and entrainment.

Keywords:

  • cyclone Nargis;
  • remote sensing;
  • MODIS and CALIPSO
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2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting

2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting (23-28 February, 2014, Hawaii)

042 – Optical Remote Sensing of Freshwater, Estuarine, and Coastal Environments: Water Quality and other Applications

Growing human populations are stressing freshwater resources and coastal and estuarine environments. Changes in land use, loadings, and resource utilization are significantly impacting these critical environments. The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) has identified water resources as a key societal benefit area and seeks advances in Earth observation capabilities. Multispectral ocean color sensors with moderate spatial and temporal resolution (e.g. MODIS, MERIS, and VIIRS) provide an excellent overview of the coastal ocean. However, coastal and inland environments are typically diverse and dynamic ecosystems, and can be optically complex as a result. Recent work with airborne hyperspectral ocean color sensors and new satellite sensors including HICO and GOCI are providing new insights into these complex environments. Presentations are solicited on recent advances in optical remote sensing of complex coastal and inland waters. This includes methods to assess, monitor and predict the quality of coastal and inland waters and quantify factors impacting water quality. Presentations on new imagers, improved atmospheric correction and product algorithms, and new ways of exploiting hyperspectral and GOCI hourly data are also solicited, likewise future directions including modeling and plans for new and improved sensors, algorithms and derived products.

Organizers

Curtiss O. Davis , Oregon State University
cdavis@coas.oregonstate.edu

Paul M. DiGiacomo , NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research
Paul.DiGiacomo@noaa.gov

Wesley J. Moses , Naval Research Laboratory
wesley.moses@nrl.navy.mil

Steven R. Greb , Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Steven.Greb@wisconsin.gov

Category

I – Estuarine and Coastal

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148 – Effects of climate variability on marine biophysical interactions ad ecosystems dynamics

We would like to bring your attention to the following session at the 2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting given your similar research interests.

We are inviting poster and talk submission to our session (#148-Effects of climate variability on marine biophysical interactions ad ecosystems dynamics) at the 2014 Ocean Meeting in February 2014 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Topics covering the effects of climate variability on the physics and biology of the oceans are welcome. Climate variability is not restricted to ENSO and can cover both global and local studies.

Session description: Climate variability unequivocally impacts the many interactions between the physic and biology of the oceans. ENSO for example has been shown to change the vertical structure of the upper water column in the Equatorial Pacific. This in turn has been shown to influence nutrient composition which is directly reflected in the total chlorophyll a and phytoplankton composition. The venue of satellite combined with the development of numerical and empirical models have unveiled some of those many biophysical interactions. This session will focus on understanding the impact of climate variability on the dynamics of the marine ecosystems. We invite talks covering the full span of the biophysical interactions at various spatial and temporal scales.

Please feel free to contact either of us for more details and forward this email to anyone you think may be interested. The abstract submission and registration sites are open. Registration and the abstract fee are required at the time of submission; the deadline to submit and register is 4 October 2013.

Website for registration/submission:
http://www.sgmeet.com/osm2014/sessionschedule.asp?SessionID=148

Organizers

Cecile Rousseaux, NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office/USRA

Cecile.S.Rousseaux@nasa.gov

Michelle Gierach

Michelle.Gierach@jpl.nasa.gov

 

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WESTPAC 9th International Scientific Symposium

WESTPAC 9th International Scientific Symposium

22-25 April 2014, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Sessions

All sessions are open to all participants, and will focus around three main themes: (1) Understanding Ocean Processes in the Indo-Pacific Region; (2) Ensuring Marine Biodiversity, Food Safety and Security; and (3) Maintenance of Ocean Health.

Understanding Ocean Processes in the Indo-Pacific Region

● Role of the Indo-Pacific Ocean in regional climate change and variability

● Status, trends and effects of climate, natural disturbances and anthropogenic stressors on ocean ecosystems

● Risk/vulnerability assessment on coastal sea-level related hazards focusing on sea level rise, storm surges and coastal erosion

● Sediment source-to-sink process in the Western Pacific

Ensuring Marine Biodiversity, Food Safety and Security

● Status, trends of marine biodiversity and productivity (including marine endangered species, invasive species, etc.)

● Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture

● Toxic marine organisms and seafood safety

Maintenance of Ocean Health

● Changing ocean biogeochemistry and its ecosystem impact (particularly nutrient supply and cycles, hypoxia, POPs and heavy metals)

● Ocean acidification and its effects on marine ecosystems

● Harmful algal blooms

● Restoration and conservation of marine ecosystems

● Remote sensing in integrated coastal and marine management

Cross-cutting and Emerging Issues

● Development and demonstration of ocean forecasting system

● Technical and technological developments, and data management in coastal and open ocean observations

● Marine renewable energy

● Good practices in, and lessons learnt from capacity development for marine science and ocean governance

Moreover, one Senior Officials Forum is being planned in view of the importance of engaging governmental officials in charge of marine science, observation and capacity building.

Important Deadlines

  • 30 October 2013: Early registration
  • 30 November 2013: Abstract submission and financial support application
  • 31 December 2013: Notification of abstract acceptance and financial support grant
  • 15 January 2014: Confirmation of participation by paper presenters

Travel & Accommodation

More detailed information concerning travel and transportation can be found in the symposium website: www.vnio.org.vn/9thwestpacsymp.

Financial Support

Financial support will be available for a limited number of participants, especially for young scientists and students from developing countries in the WESTPAC region.

Contact Address

Local Secretariat for the WESTPAC 9th International Scientific Symposium

Mrs. Do Minh Thu

Institute of Oceanography

01 Cau Da, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam

Tel: (84-58) 3590035

Fax: (84-58) 3590034

Email: dmthu.io@gmail.com

and/or

IOC Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC Office)

Ms. Nachapa Saransuth

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO

Tel: +66 2 1411288

Fax: +66 2 1439245

Email: snachapa@gmail.com; n.saransuth@unesco.org

 

Keynote Addresses

● Achievements and perspectives of marine science in the region

● Climate change and variability and its related disasters in the region

● Climate and anthropogenic impacts to and resilience of ecosystems in the region

● Latest scientific advances and innovations in ocean observations techniques

● Impacts on the ocean and coasts following the 2011 Japan Tsunami

● Marine processes and resource management towards sustaining marine biodiversity and food security

more details, check HERE

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The Coastal Ocean from a Hyperspectral Perspective

Folks,
Just wanted to let everyone know that there is a new feature on the Ocean Color Web homepage ( http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ) that Norman Kuring has just put together using some of the HICO data that in collaboration with our colleagues at the Naval Research Laboratory and Oregon State University, we are now making available to the broader ocean color community.  It is a wonderfully clear and creative depiction of the kind of information that is contained within the hyperspectral data from HICO.  You can access the feature directly at:

http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/FEATURE/H2013229192426.html

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Modis Aqua Reprocessing

MODIS Ocean Color Data Users:

Within the next few days the OBPG plans to initiate a partial reprocessing of MODIS-Aqua ocean color products spanning approximately the last year of the mission (August 2012 to present).  As indicated in a previous message (sent 2 August 2013), this reprocessing is just an update to the instrument calibration to reduce some mirror-side striping artifacts.  The impact to the global mean time-series is small.  For details, see:

http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/WIKI/OCReproc2013%282e%291MA.html

We expect the reprocessing to be completed within a few days of initiation. If you have any questions or wish to track the status of the reprocessing, please refer to the topic on the ocean color forum.

http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/forum/oceancolor/topic_show.pl?tid=5179

 

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El Niño–related offshore phytoplankton bloom events around the Spratley Islands in the South China Sea

Isoguchi, Osamu; Kawamura, Hiroshi; Ku-Kassim, Ku-Yaacob

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 32, Issue 21, CiteID L21603

Abstract

Satellite chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) observations reveal offshore phytoplankton bloom events with high Chl-a (>1 mg m-3) spreading over 300 km off the coasts around the Spratley Islands in the South China Sea (SCS) during the spring of 1998. The bloom entails anomalous wind jet and sea surface temperature (SST) cooling, suggesting that the wind jet-induced mixing and/or offshore upwelling bring about the cooling and the bloom through the supply of nutrient-rich waters into the euphotic zone. The strong wind jet is orographically formed responding to shifts in wind direction over the eastern SCS. The wind shift is connected with the Philippine Sea anomalous anticyclone that is established during El Niño, indicating the El Niño-related offshore bloom. The long-term reanalysis winds over the eastern SCS demonstrates that wind jet formation and associated offshore cooling/bloom are expected to occur in most cases of the subsequent El Niño years.

Keywords: Oceanography: Physical: ENSO (4922), Oceanography: Physical: Topographic/bathymetric interactions, Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Phytoplankton

DOI: 10.1029/2005GL024285

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Upwelling induced by meso-scale cyclonic eddies in the Andaman Sea

Buranapratheprat, Anukul,Laongmanee, Penchan,Sukramongkol, Natinee,Prommas, Ritthirong,Promjunda, Sayan,Yanagi, Tetsuo, 2010. Upwelling induced by meso-scale cyclonic eddies in the Andaman Sea. Coastal marine science. Vol. 34, No. 1, 2010, pp. 68-73

http://hdl.handle.net/2261/51653

Abstract:

The results from a survey on oceanographic phenomena and fishery resources in the Andaman Sea, under the Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management in the Bay of Bengal Project, initiated by members of BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic cooperation), revealed the evidence of upwelling. It was observed from shallow pycnocline and high salinity near sea surface. The relationship between surface chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and upwelling was prominent that Chl-a tended to be high in upwelling areas. Satellite altimetry and the surface geostropic current captured during the same period of the field survey, suggest that upwelling is induced by cyclonic eddies. This phenomenon could be observed on satellite Chl-a image over the Andaman Sea. Further investigations are required to assess their role in oceanographic processes, especially primary productivity, in the Andaman Sea.

Keywords:

  • cyclonic eddy
  • upwelling
  • altimetry
  • geostrophic current
  • the Andaman Sea
  • nutrient
  • chlorophyll
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Abnormal upwelling and chlorophyll-a concentration off South Vietnam in summer 2007

Liu, X., J. Wang, X. Cheng, and Y. Du (2012), Abnormal upwelling and chlorophyll-a concentration off South Vietnam in summer 2007, J. Geophys. Res., 117, C07021, doi:10.1029/2012JC008052.

Abstract

The present study investigates a strong upwelling and concurrent phytoplankton bloom off the South Vietnam coast in August 2007. Analysis of the alongshore wind, offshore Ekman transport, wind stress curl and other parameters indicates the southwesterly summer monsoon plays an important role in this peculiar case. The change of monsoonal wind involves variations of atmospheric circulation on multiple time scales. On the interannual time scale, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in 2007 accompanying with a La Niña event acts to enhance the southwesterly monsoon over the South China Sea (SCS). The enhanced southwesterly wind is regarded as a major factor in promoting the upwelling and the phytoplankton bloom off the South Vietnam coast. On the intraseasonal time scale, variations of the sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface wind at 30-60 day periods reveal that the SST cooling develops with the evolution of the southwesterly wind anomalies with nearly one week delay, implying the great significance of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). Moreover, a tropical storm formed in the western SCS in early August reinforces the westerly wind and SST cooling. Among multiple factors on different time scales, the MJO event is considered as the major cause, since it induces the maximum velocity (4 m/s) of the southwesterly wind anomalies. As a result, the high Chlorophyll-a concentration (>0.56 mg/m3) and low SST center (<27 {degree sign}C) develops in the region off the South Vietnam coast and advects to the central SCS, riding on the northern rim of the southern anticyclonic gyre.

Keywords:

  • Chlorophyll-a concentration
  • El Niño
  • Indian Ocean dipole
  • Madden-Julian Oscillation
  • South Vietnam coast
  • upwelling
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Remote sensing oceanography of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) off the coast of southeastern Vietnam

DanLing TANG, H Kawamura, Hai Doan-Nhu, W Takahashi , 2004. Remote sensing oceanography of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) off the coast of southeastern Vietnam. J. of Geophysical Research (Ocean).Vol 109, doi:10.1029/2003JC002045, 2004.

Abstract

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the southeastern Vietnamese coastal waters have caused large economic losses in aquacultured and wild fisheries in recent years; however, there have been few oceanographic studies on these HAB events. The present study reports an extensive HAB off southeastern Vietnamese waters during late June to July 2002 with in situ observations and analyzes the oceanographic conditions using satellite remote sensing data. The HAB had high chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations (up to 4.5 mg m−3) occurring ∼200 km off the coast and ∼200 km northeast of the Mekong River mouth for a period of ∼6 weeks. The bloom was dominated by the harmful algae haptophyte Phaeocystis cf. globosa and caused a very significant mortality of aquacultured fish and other marine life. In the same period, sea surface temperature (SST) imagery showed a cold water plume extending from the coast to the open sea, and QuikScat data showed strong southwesterly winds blowing parallel to the coastline. This study indicated that the HAB was induced and supported by offshore upwelling that brings nutrients from the deep ocean to the surface and from coastal water to offshore water and that the upwelling was driven by strong wind through Ekman transport when winds were parallel to the coastline. This study demonstrated the possibility of utilizing a combination of satellite data of Chl a, SST, and wind velocity together with coastal bathymetric information and in situ observations to give a better understanding of the biological oceanography of HABs.

Keywords:

  • harmful algal bloom (HAB);
  • satellite remote sensing;
  • upwelling;
  • SeaWiFS;
  • chlorophyll a;
  • AVHRR SST;
  • South China Sea
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Research Associate/Research Assistant (Bangkok, Thailand)

Position: Research Associate/Research Assistant
Topic: Managing Resources for Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia (MR4SD) Research Group
Salary range: Competitive salary with benefits, commensurate with experience and qualifications. SEI reserves the right to appoint at a lower level, if appropriate.
Start date: As soon as possible, however, not later than early October is expected.
Contract period: 24 months renewable contract with 6-month probation period
Duty station: Bangkok, Thailand
Application deadline: 15 August 2013


Job description

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) seeks a Research Associate to assist in undertaking research and coordination on projects relating to biophysical processes and the conditions that enable sustainable land, water and energy management considering uncertain future climate conditions.

The appointee will be working with colleagues in the MR4SD research group at Asia Centre in Bangkok and SEI colleagues worldwide. The appointee will be responsible for carrying out library and internet searches; conducting literature reviews and preparing bibliographies; assisting in proposal preparation; contributing to planning and implementation of fieldwork; recording; collating and analyzing data; preparing project documentation and reports; preparing scientific papers; and other tasks depending on the skills and background of the appointee.

The Research Associate/Research Assistant will report directly to the MR4SD Research Group Leader and specific project leader/manager and under overall supervision by the Centre Director of SEI in Asia.

 

Essential Criteria

  • Masters-level degree in relevant subject, e.g. agricultural or environmental engineering, physical geography, geo-ecology, hydrology, environmental studies or other fields related to land and water resources.
  • Strong motivation, personal initiative and commitment to excellence and results, as well as enthusiasm for doing scientific research.
  • Good background in, and ability to apply, quantitative approaches, statistics and numerical modeling (e.g. hydrological model, ecosystem model), as well as quantitative GIS/RS methods (e.g. spatial data).
  • Good understanding of the concept of environmental sustainability.
  • Experience in field data collection.
  • Demonstrated record of oral and written communication.
  • Demonstrated record of interdisciplinary collaboration, partnership and team building and the desire to work in a collaborative environment.
  • Good organization and time management skills.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English.

 

Desirable Criteria

  • At least 3 years of research experience in the Mekong River region
  • Experience in communicating complex concepts and information to a range of different audiences.
  • Interest in working at the interface with social science and policy engagement, and qualitative approaches.
  • Knowledge of a Southeast Asian language is desirable.
  • Knowledge of a programming or scripting language is an advantage.


ENQUIRIES: Ms. Orn-uma Polpanich ( ornuma.polpanich@sei-international.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

How to apply
Please send your application and supporting documents to Ms. Nipa Laithong ( nipa.laithong@sei-international.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled. Please include the following:

  • Cover letter highlighting relevant qualifications and experience, what appeals to you about this job, and how you envision your work at SEI (max. 2 pages).
  • Curriculum vitae, including major projects led (with an emphasis on Southeast Asia region), publications, three professional references who will be contacted only if short-listed (max. 8 pages), and current and expected salary (in Thai baht/month).
  • 2 to 3 samples of publications of which you are the lead author.

Application will be acknowledged. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

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