ABSTRACT 



Satellites currently capable of acquiring oceanographic data are 

 limited to those vhich record information by infrared radiometry, by 

 television or by photography. Although other methods of oceanographic 

 data acquisition from space are possible, these are the only methods in 

 present use. 



The use of infrared radiometry to examine the sea's surface 

 thermal structure has been limited to the Nimbus satellites.. Cloud 

 interference has hampered the utility of these data; however, a 

 selective method of compositing several days ' data has indicated that 

 this difficulty is partially surmountable o 



Black and white television pictures of the entire earth's surface 

 have come from polar orbited ETimbus and EBSA satellites while color and 

 black and white pictures of the entire earth disc have been received 

 from geo-synchronous ATS satellites . These television pictures may be 

 used to measure the extent of ice cover and to infer water structure 

 from related cloud cover. ISSA satellite data have been enhanced 

 further by computer treatment of the televised pictures . 



Color photographs of selected ocean areas have been taken during 

 Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions. These missions are Inherently 

 restricted and the oceanographic Information gained is opportxme 

 temporally and geographically. Despite this, examination of spacecraft 

 photographs has revealed abundant examples of surface water structure. 



Future satellites, such as ITOS^ promise refinements In existing 

 techniques. Others undoubtedly will Introduce new techniques. How- 

 ever, the oceanographic information from available satellite data has 

 not been exhausted and, with imagination and care, may be further 

 exploited. 



by ^ 



PAUL E. LA VIOLEITTE S 



and ^^ 



SAJIDRA E. SEIM ^ 



n ^^S " 



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