Observational
Date: 2003/01/25
Chlorophyll-a concentration and
sea-surface temperature derived from GLI firstlight images
(Remake)Above figures show chlorophyll-a
concentration and sea-surface temperature (SST) observed by the Global
Imager (GLI) aboard Midori-II (ADEOS-II) at around 9:45 a.m (JST) on January 25,
2003 (GLI First-light images). Chlorophyll-a concentration is
generally high along coast due to nutrients supply by coastal upwelling or
river outflow (e.g., along the nort-east coast of Japan, Setonai-kai,
Ariake-kai, and the Taiwan Channel).
Kuroshio warm current and its
extension are peeping out from clouds in the western and eastern observation
areas respectively. The Kuroshio current brings warm water (SST is 20-25 degree
C) from the subtropical Pacific, and cold air masses (less than 0 degree) are
often surged by a winter monsoon from Siberia to the south of Japan Islands. The
air-sea temperature difference causes large heat flux from the ocean to the
atmosphere, which is thought to play important role in the global energy
transport from lower to higher latitudes. The GLI first light image gives us a
glimpse of the dynamic energy cycle on the Earth.
