Studies of sea surface temperatures in selected northern Norwegian fjords using Landsat TM data

Abstract

Remote sensing is evaluated as a tool for studying oceanographic phenomena. Data from the infrared channel of Thematic Mapper onboard Landsat 5 were used to map the spatial distribution of sea surface temperatures in selected fjords in northern Norway. Sea surface temperature charts provided clear indications of surface current patterns, upwellings, convergences, etc. The complex pattern of currents found in fjords is, to varying degrees, affected by tides and fresh water run-off, as well as by hydrographic, meteorological and topographical conditions. In northern Norway the surface circulation is strongly influenced by inland cold air flows during prolonged periods of cold weather. This study demonstrates that remotely sensed data can be used as an important supplement to traditional hydrographical and meteorological observations in order to understand the distribution of temperatures and circulation patterns in the surface layers of fjords and coastal waters.