Davidson T. Chen

Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean: instrument description and first images

The Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) is the first spaceborne hyperspectral sensor designed specifically for the coastal ocean and estuarial, riverine, or other shallow-water areas. The HICO generates hyperspectral images, primarily over the 400-900 nm spectral range, with a ground sample distance of ≈90 m (at nadir) and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The HICO is now operating on the International Space Station (ISS). Its cross-track and along-track fields of view are 42 km (at nadir) and 192 km, respectively, for a total scene area of 8000 km(2). The HICO is an innovative prototype sensor that builds on extensive experience with airborne sensors and makes extensive use of commercial off-the-shelf components to build a space sensor at a small fraction of the usual cost and time. Here we describe the instruments design and characterization and present early images from the ISS.

Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement Experiment (POAM-II)

The polar ozone and aerosol measurement experiment (POAM II) was launched on the SPOT 3 satellite on 25 September 1993. POAM II is designed to measure the vertical profiles of the polar ozone, aerosols, water vapor, nitrogen dioxide, atmospheric density and temperature in the stratosphere and upper troposphere. It makes solar occultation measurements in nine channels defined by narrow-band filters. The field of view is 0.01 by 1.2 degrees, with an instantaneous vertical resolution of 0.6 km at the tangent point in the earths atmosphere. The SPOT 3 satellite is in a 98.7-degree inclined sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 833 km. From the measured transmissions, it is possible to determine the density profiles of aerosols, O3, H2O, and NO2. Using the assumption of uniformly mixed oxygen, we are also able to determine the temperature. We present details of the POAM II instrument design, including the optical configuration, electronics and measurement accuracy. We also present preliminary results from the occultation measurements made to date.

The Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO™) environmental littoral imaging from the International Space Station

The Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO™), launched to the International Space Station in September 2009, is the first spaceborne hyperspectral imager optimized for environmental characterization of the coastal ocean. Building on the heritage of airborne hyperspectral imagers, HICO™ combines high signal-to-noise ratio, contiguous 10 nm wide spectral channels over the range 400 to 900 nm, and a scene size of 42 × 190 km to capture the scale of coastal dynamics. HICO™ image data is being exploited to produce maps of coastal ocean properties including bathymetry, in-water suspended and dissolved matter, and bottom characteristics, offering a new remote sensing capability for coastal environments worldwide. In this paper we discuss the development and performance characteristics of the HICO™ imager, and present example HICO™ data products.

DETERMINING THE CURRENTS OVER PHELPS BANK

The M2 tidal currents over Phelps Bank are examined using a fully nonlinear model. Simulations with resolutions of 2’ × 2’ and 0.5’ × 0.5’ were made of the full area covering Nantucket Shoals south of Cape Cod. A fine resolution model (0.125’ × 0.125’) was also run over a limited area surrounding Phelps Bank. Agreement was good in amplitude and phase when compared to surface elevation data. The agreement with current meter data was fair in amplitude and poor in phase with the exception that agreement was good at the one Phelps Bank mooring when compared with models of the full area. The limited area model showed signs of instability that were damped out with a horizontal eddy viscosity. Agreement of this model with data from the one available current meter mooring was worse. Different options are available to go from model predictions to the currents necessary for calibration of microwave data obtained over Phelps Bank.

Laboratory characterization of the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO)

The laboratory characterization of the optical and radiometric properties of the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) is presented. It is shown the as-built sensor meets or exceeds the design parameters necessary to meet the stringent requirements imposed by maritime hyperspectral imaging. The results confirm that in general, the design parameters have been satisfied and the measured system response and signal to noise ratio is shown to match the sensor model. The results are discussed.

Gulf stream ground truth project: Results of the NRL airborned sensors

Results of an airborne study of the waves in the Gulf Stream are presented. These results show that the active microwave sensors (high-flight radar and wind-wave radar) provide consistent and accurate estimates of significant wave height and surface wind speed, respectively. The correlation between the wave height measurements of the high-flight radar and a laser profilometer is excellent.

WAVE MEASUREMENTS IN OPEN OCEAN

A significant portion of the damage by hurricanes is the storm surges. The National Weather Service has developed a dynamical-numerical model to forecast hurricane storm surges. The model is used operationally for prediction, warning, and planning purposes. The model requires fixed oceanographic and real time meteorological input data. The oceanographic data were prepared for the Gulf and East coasts of the U.S. and are stored as an essential part of the program. Meteorological data for any tropical storm are supplied by the forecasters or planners using the model. The model was applied to hurricane Camille 1969. Comparison between the observed and computed surges for Camille was satisfactory for prediction purposes.The main consideration in harbor master planning is to maximize the amount of time that the harbor can be used. The potential level of harbor utilization can be evaluated by analyzing vessel performance during harbor operations in terms of the range of imposed environmental conditions. The harbor utilization level is expressed statistically as the probable amount of time that the harbor can be used as planned.The design and construction of a major ocean outfall and diffuser system for disposal of wastewater effluents is a complex process involving an interplay of requirements originating from various disciplines. These include, among others, considerations of physical oceanography, mixing and dispersion, treatment processes, regulatory requirements, marine geology, economics and construction. The recently completed Sand Island Outfall and the newly designed Barbers Point Outfall are both on the southern coast of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and are designed for treated sewage effluents from the densely populated portion of the City and County of Honolulu. In this paper, some design considerations of these outfalls will be examined. The emphasis in this paper is on the hydrodynamics, although other design aspects are also discussed briefly.The height of dikes and other coastal structures can only be calculated after determination of the wave run-up. Several formulas for the calculation of wave run-up are developed after model tests as a rule. But the influences of scale effects and natural wind conditions are practically unknown. To clear these questions further investigations and especially field measurements should be carried out. By measuring the markerline of floating trash on the slope of the seadikes the maximum wave run-up could be found out after four storm surges in 1967 and 1973In two graphs it will be shown that on the tidal flats the run-up depends on the waterdepth. The run-up was higher than it could be expected after model tests of 1954. With a newly developed special echo sounder the run-up could be measured in January 1976. The waves and the run-up could be registrated synchronously during two severe storm surges. As shown in Fig. 9 it was found a logarithmic distribution of the wave height, wave period and the higher part of the wave run-up. The found wave run-up is considerably higher than estimated before. The measured 98 % run-up is found about twice the computed value. That is an interesting and important result of the first synchronous recording of wave run-up on sea dikes.In March 1972 the authors firm in association with two Portuguese firms of consulting engineers, Consulmar and Lusotecna, were appointed by the Portuguese Government agency Gabinete da Area de Sines to prepare designs for the construction of a new harbour at Sines on the west coast of Portugal. The location is shown in Figure 1. The main breakwater, which is the subject of this paper, is probably the largest breakwater yet built, being 2 km long and in depths of water of up to 50 m. It is exposed to the North Atlantic and has been designed for a significant wave height of 11 m. Dolos units invented by Merrifield (ref. 1) form the main armour. The project programme required that studies be first made of a wide range of alternative layouts for the harbour. After the client had decided on the layout to be adopted, documents were to be prepared to enable tenders for construction to be invited in January 1973. This allowed little time for the design to be developed and only one series of flume tests, using regular waves, was completed during this period. Further tests in the regular flume were completed during the tender period and a thorough programme of testing with irregular waves was commenced later in the year, continuing until August 1974 when the root of the breakwater was complete and the construction of the main cross-section was about to start. The model tests, which were carried out at the Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil in Lisbon, were reported by Morals in a paper presented to the 14th International Coastal Engineering Conference in 1974. (ref. 2)Estuaries may be sequentially classified into highly stratified, moderately mixed and vertically homogeneous. An important difference between moderately stratified or vertically homogeneous estuaries, and highly stratified estuaries (salt wedges) is that, in the former, tidal currents are sufficient to cause turbulent mixing of fresh water and sea water over the full depth of the estuary. In the latter, a distinct interface or interfacial layer exists which separates the two nearly homogeneous layers. The vertical advectlon of salt in this two-layer flow is the dominant process in maintaining the salt balance. This paper presents an analytical model describing this process. Experiments have been conducted in the laboratory to compare with the developed theory.