Application of the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) to estimates of ocean surface currents

Abstract

The Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) can be utilized efficiently to observe subtle changes in oceanic environments under cloud-free conditions because it receives ocean color images around the Korean Peninsula hourly, for 8 h a day. Here we investigated the applicability of the GOCI for estimating hourly variations in ocean surface currents, which provide significant information on seawater circulation for fisheries, shipping controls, and more. Ocean surface currents were deduced from eight images of GOCI-derived total suspended matter (TSM) from highly turbid coastal waters and images of chlorophyll concentration (CHL) for relatively clear waters. The results showed that GOCI TSM-derived ocean surface currents can effectively estimate and represent fast tidal currents, as well as flood and ebb tides on the west coast of Korea, in comparison with in situ measurements. GOCI-derived CHL scenes successfully illustrated currents moving along boundaries where warm and cold seawaters mix, in addition to mesoscale currents such as the East Korea Warm Current (EKWC) in the East Sea of Korea. Satellite-based sea surface temperature and sea surface height images supported the reliability of GOCI-derived ocean surface currents in the East Sea.