Ocean Remote Sensing for Integrated Coastal Area Management (WESTPAC-ORSP)
Modern oceanography uses satellites observation, research trips, robotic instruments and large computer models to obtain and analyze data. To describe the ocean and the coastal areas more accurately and precisely, more observational data are always needed.
They help to improve the estimates of present ocean state, constrain model calculations and extend forward the duration of forecasts.
Remote sensing provides one of the most cost-effective methods to obtain information about the distributions of coastal habitats. Currently a couple of commercial and/or non commercial satellite images could be further utilized to map the coastal habitats. Although commercial satellites provide less than 4-meter ultra-high spatial resolution images, their fairly expensive prices prevent us to use them easily.
IOC/ WESTPAC holds programmes in order to advance remote sensing techniques and promote its application in the protection and management of marine environment by:
- encouraging activities using satellite observations in the WESTPAC region;
- conducting international remote sensing projects for better understanding of the WESTPAC region and development of applications, and;
- contributing to the regional GOOS.