Satellite altimetry has proven to be a useful tool to study oceanic processes in the deep ocean; however, its use is still limited in shallow waters near the coast where two main issues still need a more detailed analysis. On one side, the local characteristics of each coastal region imply that certain corrections applied to the altimetry measurements need to be reanalysed. On the other side, the radar signal retracking algorithms need to be improved because the waveforms do not follow the Brown's model, which is designed for deep waters. The ESA mission Envisat was launched in March 2002 with a dual-frequency radar altimetry (RA-2). The satellite was operative until the end of the mission in May 2012. The ESA mission Cryosat-2 was launched in April 2010 being still in operation. The radar instrument on-board Cryosat-2 improves the capabilities of previous pulse-limited altimeters, such as Envisat RA-2. The Spanish-funded ALCOVA project aims at analyzing and improving the altimetry measurements obtained from these two altimetry missions. Regarding the RA-2 data a new prototype retracker -ALES- has been developed under the frame of the ESA-DUE eSurge project. Two pilot regions are proposed, namely, the Gulf of Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar in the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula. Cryosat-2 data (in SAR mode), the newly corrected RA-2 data (based on ALES) and the standard RA- 2 product (based on Brown's model) are being validated with available in-situ data (sea level height) to ensure their correct performance in the selected coastal areas.
During the period 2000-2005, the atmospheric dynamic showed a significant influence on the dust inputs dynamic and, as a result, on the primary production of the northwest African Upwelling System since 2000 to 2005. In this period, the annual mean sea level pressure became higher, ranging from 1014 to 1015 mb. Mean annual zonal wind intensity became higher (from 1.1 to 1.8 m s-1), while the mean annual meridional wind reduced from 6.2 to 5.3 m s-1. Mean annual satellite-derived AVHRR/NOAA Sea Surface Temperature recorded in the northwest African Upwelling becomes warmer with 18.3°C to 18.8°C in Cape Ghir, and from 19.5°C to 20.3°C north Canary Islands waters. Chlorophyll data from SeaWiFS/OV-2 showed a different pattern trend. Mean annual CHL levels increased at eutrophic-like waters of Cape Ghir from 0.65 mg m-3 to 0.9 mg m-. However, data were significantly reduced from 0.59 mg m-3 to 0.31 mg m-3 in oligotrophic-like waters of the Canary Islands. Changes observed in the role of CHL during the last 6-years period could be associated to intensive dust deposition and the exceptional weather warming observed in this area since 2000. However, it is addressed to a single 7 years period and conclusions on possible links between dust deposition and marine biochemistry activity cannot be generalized.
Satellite radiometers are widely used to detect oceanic structures which may allow for accumulations of pelagic fish. However, little information exists with respect to the possible use of spacecraft radar sensors in the detection and management of pelagic fisheries. This paper presents the satellite-derived ocenic events obtained from the Ekman Pumping (satellite wind scatterometer data derived), the Sea Level Anomaly, the Sea Surface Temperature and the Chlorophyll-a pigment images data sets, and how they relate to the albacore tuna fishing grounds distribution patterns in the North-East Atlantic. The statistical results show that catch per unit of effort (cpue) variability can be extensively explained by the satellite derived data base. The accumulation of CPUE records in specific zones is discussed too, in relation to the specific sensitivity of albacore due to the species' physiological thermo-conserving system. This paper emphasizes the importance of the combination of several satellite data sources in order to fully investigate mathematical relationships with the cpue.
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