Dr. Mike Freilich
Earth Science Division, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Looking Down on the Seas: How Satellites are Revolutionizing our Understanding of the Ocean
Satellites have fundamentally transformed the way we observe the ocean and its properties. Global measurements of sea-surface temperature, sea level, wind forcing, ocean color, and sea ice cover are obtained by satellite-borne instruments on an almost routine basis. Satellite observations have helped illuminate the ways in which ocean currents and biology respond to changes in winds and solar energy. Dr. Freilich discussed some of the satellite measurement techniques and recent scientific findings that have advanced our knowledge of the role of the oceans in the Earth's climate system. He explored the future of satellite oceanography and the potential to forecast ocean conditions in much the same way as we forecast weather today.
