Research Opportunities in Remote Sensing

Satellite Oceanography

Research involves remote sensing physics, image processing techniques and oceanic modeling. Examples include the observation of sea surface temperature, current velocity, ocean fronts, circulation patterns, surface winds, and air-sea heat exchange by means of visible, infrared, microwave, radar scatterometer and altimeter data; observation of primary production by means of visible light scattered from phytoplankton cells; observation of cloud cover through image processing and pattern recognition techniques; and prediction of upper ocean processes through oceanic remote sensing modeling.
 
 

El Niño Southern Oscillation and Global Climate Change

Remote sensing of oceanic processes in the equatorial Pacific, including the dynamics of the warm pool in western Pacific equatorial waters, using infrared and microwave radiometer and scatterometer data; the propagation of Kelvin waves along the equatorial region, based on altimeter data; and the role of oceanic drivers or forerunners of El Niño Southern Oscillation events. Research involves theoretical and numerical modeling and remote sensing data analysis.
 
 

Optical Properties of Coastal Waters

Measurement and modeling of light propagation in turbid coastal/estuarine water, including the absorption and scattering by dissolved and particulate substances such as chlorophyll, suspended sediment and dissolved organics. Verification of models and algorithms using ship, aircraft and satellite data. Applications include monitoring estuarine pollutants, modeling coastal productivity, and managing living resources.
 
 

Studies of Ocean Internal Waves

Studies of ocean internal waves using space shuttle images and satellite SAR data. Objectives are to study upper ocean processes, emphasizing the dynamics of internal waves on continental shelves;to interpret internal-wave features on satellite imagery;and to develop oceanographic applications of space shuttle data. The approach includes modeling internal waves to explain their visibility on remote sensing imagery;statistical characterization of internal waves on the continental shelves to quantify their motion; and description of their spatial structures.  Internal waves play significant roles in vertical mixing, circulation, energy and mass transport. They can influence acoustic wave propagation and damage oil rigs and submarines.
 

Coastal Environmental Indicators and Change Detection

Studies of light interaction with plant canopies; determination of wetland biomass using modified vegetation indexes; development of landscape level coastal environmental indicators, which can be observed by remote sensors, including riparian buffers, invasive plant species, impervious surfaces and wetlands losses. The use of biomass change for detecting wetland changes.
 

Watershed Pollution Monitoring and Modeling

Application of Geographic Information System techniques to integrate remotely sensed and other types of data to study the relationship between land use change in coastal watersheds, non-point-source pollutant run-off and the health of wetlands and estuaries. Application of land use, hydrologic, water quality and living resource models to guide the management of coastal watersheds and estuaries.
 

High Spatial and Spectral Resolution Imaging of Wetlands

Wetland plants and estuarine waters have complicated spectral reflectance signatures and are difficult to identify and map. New satellites have been launched which provide imagery with spatial resolutions of 1 to 4 meters and hundreds of spectral bands. The objective of this research is to investigate the ability of these high-resolution sensors to detect wetland changes and map features of interest to coastal researchers and resource managers.

For further information, contact:

 
Dr. Vic Klemas, Co-Director
Center for Remote Sensing
Graduate College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware 19716
Phone: (302) 831-8256

 
or
Dr. Xiao-Hai Yan, Co-Director
Center for Remote Sensing
Graduate College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
Phone: (302) 831-3694
back to the Center for Remote Sensing Page.

 
Last modified: November 8, 2004
Brian Dzwonkowski--- briandz@udel.edu