Monthly mean surface thermal structure in the Tasman Sea from satellite imagery, 1979-84

Abstract

The use of satellite data provides a far greater density and more uniform distribution of observations than the more classical modes of oceanographic data collection. By sacrificing some spatial resolution of the satellite data, it is possible to retrieve sea surface temperatures on a global basis that have absolute accuracies within 1ºC of drifting buoy data. Five years of low resolution infra-red data from the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites have been analysed for the area of the Tasman and Southern Coral Seas. Monthly mean surface thermal patterns compare favourably with previous studies using Merchant Ship data. In the western Tasman Sea the East Australian Current can be clearly seen throughout the year, although the more transitory eddies often associated with the current system are not apparent. General circulation patterns off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand show severe bending of the isotherms to the south. The nature of the surface thermal signal of the Tasman Front is quite different either side of the Lord Howe Rise and there is some doubt whether these two features are linked.