Multi-spectral front maps for automatic detection of ocean colour features from SeaWiFS

The aim of this research is to automatically detect and visualize dynamic ocean colour phenomena such as algae blooms, fronts and eddies from a sequence of cloudy satellite images. The composite front map methodology has been extended to combine feature observations from multiple ocean colour and temperature products in a single map, to explore the interaction between physical and biological oceanic processes. Sample maps showing chlorophyll, sediment and sea surface temperature fronts are presented, derived from long sequences of cloud-affected Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS) data. The successful detection and animation of many ocean colour features suggests a valuable application to summarize the increased multi-spectral data provided by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration's (NASA) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument.