OBSERVING THE OCEAN FROM SPACE: MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, OCEAN DYNAMICS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
Seminars
Semester 1
The ocean is highly dynamic, with biological and physical processes evolving across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Satellite remote sensing provides a unique perspective for observing these changes, offering repeated and synoptic measurements that complement traditional field observations. In this seminar, I will introduce how satellite observations can be used to investigate marine ecosystem dynamics and environmental change, drawing on examples from floating macroalgal blooms, phytoplankton blooms, coastal ecosystems, and their interactions with ocean circulation. I will discuss how observations from multiple satellite sensors, together with emerging artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches, can help overcome challenges associated with clouds, observational gaps, and rapidly evolving ocean features. Through these examples, I will highlight a progression from detecting marine phenomena to understanding their dynamics and developing more continuous observations of the changing ocean. I will conclude with ongoing work and future opportunities for integrating new satellite observations, multi-sensor data, and AI to advance our understanding of marine ecosystems, their dynamics, and their connections to the broader Earth system.
For additional information, please contact Prof Mengqiu Wang, mengqiu@hku.hk.