2. PossilDle Oceanographic Satellites and their Sensors 



Until now, there has Taeen no satellite which could he called an 

 "oceanographic satellite »" The oceanographic information which is 

 available from satellites must he obtained from the data of satellite 

 sensors whose primary function was not oceanography (Table l)*. The 

 method of data collection hy these geo-sensors is limited to 

 electromagnetic radiation. The oceanographic information directly 

 obtainable in this manner is restricted to the immediate surface layers 

 of the ocean, due to the limited transmission of electromagnetic waves 

 in water.. The broad synoptic knowledge of the surface provided by the 

 satellites, however, can contribute much toward understanding the 

 physical processes which occur at deptho 



Table 1. Possible Oceanographic Satellites and their Sensors 



Satellite Type Number Orbited 



Orbit Sensor(s) 



Polar Infrared, T.V, 



Polar T.V. 



Geo-Synchronous T .Y . 

 and eqiiatorial 



Varied Color 



Photography 



* The various satellites carrying these sensors are a conglomerate with 

 different orbits, launching dates, and investigative methods. To help 

 alleviate this confusion, a list of these geo-satellites, their sensors, 

 and pertinent related data is tabulated in Appendix A. A generic 

 explanation of satellite names is given in Part II, Section lo 





(as 



of 31 Dec 19^ 



Nimbus 





2 



ESSA 





k 



ATS 





3 



Mercury, Gemini 

 and Apollo 





k, 10 and 

 k 



