"ERS-2 SAR near real time data used in the sampling strategy of an
  oceanographic cruise in the western Mediterranean"

  Oscar Chic (1), Jordi Font (1), Stein Sandven (2)

  (1)
  Institut de Ciencies del Mar (CSIC)
  Passeig Joan de Borbo, s/n
  08039 Barcelona
  Spain
  Phone: + 34 3 2216416
  Fax: + 34 3 2217340

  (2)
  Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center
  Edvard Griegsvei 3a
  N-5037 Bergen-Solheimsviken
  Norway
  Phone: + 47 55 29 72 88
  Fax: + 47 55 20 00 50

  Abstract

  ALGERS project ("The use of ERS sensors for the study of the dynamics of
  Modified Atlantic Water in the Algerian basin" code E102/0) was accepted
  in the ERS Announcement of Opportunity, and included an experiment of
  ERS 2 SAR data analysis and transmission in near real time to a research
  vessel during an oceanographic cruise. This had previously been
  successfully done by the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center
  in the Norwegian Sea and other high latitude areas. ERS-1 SAR had proved
  to be an adequate sensor to image surface mesoscale structures in the
  western Mediterranean, under certain wind conditions.

  An agreement with West Freugh satellite receiving station (UK) allowed
  the organization of the near real time experiment for a cruise to be
  carried out by the Institute of Marine Sciences (Barcelona) on board the
  Spanish R/V HESPERIDES in October 1996. SAR data were acquired and
  processed at West Freugh in 3 hours, then downlinked by NERSC at Bergen,
  analysed and compressed and finally transmitted by Inmarsat to the
  vessel. Besides this, AVHRR images were continuously obtained on board
  with a portable HRPT station. This near/real time remote sensing
  information was crucial to track the evolution of the structures to be
  sampled from the ship, and allowed a maximum efficiency of the available
  time and resources. Especially to measure the three dimensional
  characteristics of a coastal anticyclonic eddy in the Algerian basin.

  The different characteristics of SAR and AVHRR in what concerns swath,
  revisiting time and dependence on atmospheric conditions, and the
  specific circumstancies at the moment of the experiment, resulted in a
  much higher use of infrared information to guide the in situ sampling.
  At present SAR, although it can better resolve some features, is not yet
  an operational tool to drive the measuring strategy of an oceanographic
  ship in latitudes like the Mediterranean Sea.

Keywords: ESA European Space Agency - Agence spatiale europeenne, observation de la terre, earth observation, satellite remote sensing, teledetection, geophysique, altimetrie, radar, chimique atmospherique, geophysics, altimetry, radar, atmospheric chemistry