MERIS/AATSR Workshop: focus on Envisat sensors measuring heat and light


Biscay
 
This AATSR view of the Bay of Biscay shows sea surface temperature (SST) and was acquired 15 September 2003.

The west European coast and the Bay of Biscay
 
A break in the clouds in an Envisat observation of the west coast of Europe reveals a striking marine phytoplankton bloom dominating the Bay of Biscay. This MERIS ocean colour image was acquired in Reduced Resolution mode on 2 May 2005.

Italy,19 February 2003
 
The snow-covered Swiss Alps and Northern Central part of Italy can be observed in this Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) image. In the northern part of the Alps in contrast with the surrounding snow are the lakes of Constance, Ammersee, Starnberg and Chiemsee. On the Italian side of the Alps are the lakes of Maggiore, Como and Garda. Continuing further east is the Venetian Lagoon and the city of Venice. The light green colour of the sea in the lagoon and along the Adriatic coast is likely to be caused by increased sedimentation. Scrolling across the peninsula to the Tyrrhenian Sea we see the Gulf of Genoa. To the south is the island of Elba and returning on the mainland further south are the volcanic lakes of Bolsena and Bracciano.

Technical Information:
Instruments: MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS)
Date of Acquisition: 19 February 2003
Orbit number: 05086
Instrument features: Full Resolution image (300 - metre resolution)

Adriatic
 
Northern Italy and the Adriatic seen by AATSR on 15 September 2003


 
AATSR image acquired 1 September 2004 that combined temperature measurements for the sea surface around Frances but also the cloud top temperature - see colour chart in Kelvin. The image data can be correleated with MERIS cloud top pressure data. Warm water at the base of the hurricane and latent heat produced by condensation at the top of the hurricane keep Frances' heat engine running. Image processed by Brockmann Consult.


 
Acquired 1 September 2004, this MERIS image represents the cloud top pressure, defined as the atmospheric pressure at the altitude of the top of the cloud, observed for Hurricane Frances and measured in hectopascals (hPa). The structure of the hurricane is clear, including a well-defined eye, eye wall and spiral arms made up of dense thunderstorms. Image processed by Brockmann Consult.



Release date: 16 September 2005