Task 2 – Satellite data collection and analysis

Duration in months: 26
Start Date: 27-09-2018
End date:26-11-2020

Objectives
Implementation of a methodology to identify and classify large short period non-linear internal solitary waves (ISWs) from Sentinel-1 SAR and characterize their spatial-temporal variability. Use Ocean-colour satellite products to test the link between the ISWs presence and the effects in phytoplankton biomass and water turbidity.

Expected Results
Classification of the fine sediment banks off NW Portugal according to the probability of sediment resuspension due to ISWs. Characterization of temporal variability of ISWs activity in areas of high probability for the presence of cysts. These results will set the release time and position of the “virtual cysts” in lagrangian models of Task 6.
Anomaly Chl-a maps indicating the occurrence of occasional blooms and their relation to ISW variability. Validated satellite Ocean Colour (OC) products and Chl-a and Total Suspended Matter (TSM) anomaly maps for the region will be used to validate model results in Task 6.

Team
IPMA will be responsible for the satellite database management and will develop the SAR processing methodology with IH. MARE will be responsible for the OC data analysis, Chl-a and TSM anomaly maps.