Chapter 3
Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing and Sea
Surface Temperature of Marine and Coastal
Waters Around Africa
Nicolas Hoepffner, Samuel Djavidnia, Leo Nykjaer and Pascal Derycke
Abstract Owing to satellite-derived Thermal Infrared (TIR) data, it is possible to
derive large basin scale view of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) around the African
continent over the last 2 or 3 decades. This may form the baseline against which
future changes can be measured. Measurements of SST also serve as an entry point
to characterize the water dynamics along the African coast and to understand where
and when changes have taken place, such that possible short- to medium term scenarios can be developed and used as management tools for precautionary measures.
Significant advances in TIR technology have been achieved to build the necessary
confidence in satellite-based SST measurements for research, as well as for operational and commercial purposes. An effective dissemination of these EO value added
products to African institutions and policy-makers is a key condition for long-term
sustainability of coastal and marine resources. The chapter presents a variety of
applications using TIR images and SST data that have contributed to develop the
necessary knowledge and competences that are critical for the implementation of
conservation and management strategies at continental, regional and national scales.
3.1 Introduction
With ca. 35,000 km of coastline, the African continent expands across 35
◦ of latitude
on either side of the equator and across similar distance in longitude from 50
◦ E to
20
◦ W. As a result of this geographical cover, Africa is surrounded by a complex
system of ocean currents maintained by typical wind patterns, namely the north- and
southeasterly trade winds, interacting with the shape of the coastline and bathymetry
to create at regional and local scales some peculiar ocean surface dynamics that
directly influence the distribution of the organisms and the ecosystem functioning
at the coast. Among well-known features, the western African coast includes two
N. Hoepffner () · L. Nykjaer · P. Derycke
European Commission, Joint Research Centre,
Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra, Italy
e-mail: nicolas.hoepffner@jrc.ec.europa.eu
S. Djavidnia
European Maritime Safety Agency, Lisbon, Portugal
V. Barale, M. Gade (eds.), Remote Sensing of the African Seas,
55
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8008-7_3,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing and Sea
Surface Temperature of Marine and Coastal
Waters Around Africa
Nicolas Hoepffner, Samuel Djavidnia, Leo Nykjaer and Pascal Derycke
Abstract Owing to satellite-derived Thermal Infrared (TIR) data, it is possible to
derive large basin scale view of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) around the African
continent over the last 2 or 3 decades. This may form the baseline against which
future changes can be measured. Measurements of SST also serve as an entry point
to characterize the water dynamics along the African coast and to understand where
and when changes have taken place, such that possible short- to medium term scenarios can be developed and used as management tools for precautionary measures.
Significant advances in TIR technology have been achieved to build the necessary
confidence in satellite-based SST measurements for research, as well as for operational and commercial purposes. An effective dissemination of these EO value added
products to African institutions and policy-makers is a key condition for long-term
sustainability of coastal and marine resources. The chapter presents a variety of
applications using TIR images and SST data that have contributed to develop the
necessary knowledge and competences that are critical for the implementation of
conservation and management strategies at continental, regional and national scales.
3.1 Introduction
With ca. 35,000 km of coastline, the African continent expands across 35
◦ of latitude
on either side of the equator and across similar distance in longitude from 50
◦ E to
20
◦ W. As a result of this geographical cover, Africa is surrounded by a complex
system of ocean currents maintained by typical wind patterns, namely the north- and
southeasterly trade winds, interacting with the shape of the coastline and bathymetry
to create at regional and local scales some peculiar ocean surface dynamics that
directly influence the distribution of the organisms and the ecosystem functioning
at the coast. Among well-known features, the western African coast includes two
N. Hoepffner () · L. Nykjaer · P. Derycke
European Commission, Joint Research Centre,
Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra, Italy
e-mail: nicolas.hoepffner@jrc.ec.europa.eu
S. Djavidnia
European Maritime Safety Agency, Lisbon, Portugal
V. Barale, M. Gade (eds.), Remote Sensing of the African Seas,
55
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8008-7_3,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014