Principal Investigators: Donald Scavia (CILER), and George A. Leshkevich (NOAA/GLERL)

CoastWatch is a nationwide National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) program within which the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) functions as the Great Lakes regional node. In this capacity, GLERL obtains, produces, and delivers environmental data and products for near real-time observation of the Great Lakes to support environmental science, decision making, and supporting research. This is achieved by providing Internet access to near real-time and retrospective satellite observations, in-situ Great Lakes data, and derived products to Federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, and the public via the Great Lakes CoastWatch web site. The goals and objectives of the CoastWatch Great Lakes Program directly support NOAA’s statutory responsibilities in estuarine and marine science, living marine resource protection, and ecosystem monitoring and management. Great Lakes CoastWatch data are used in a variety of ways including monitoring of algal blooms, plumes, ice cover, and water temperatures, two and three dimensional modeling of Great Lakes physical parameters (such as wave height and currents), damage assessment modeling, research, and for educational and recreational activities.

This project focuses on research and applications development utilizing CoastWatch imagery and imagery from new satellite sensors such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for ice classification and mapping and ocean color sensors such as the Sea Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) and/or MODIS for ocean color (chlorophyll) products. These products will enhance the CoastWatch Great Lakes product suite by developing regional products and applications for the Great Lakes, and will contribute to the operational responsibilities of sister agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard and National Weather Service. One of the objectives of the CoastWatch Great Lakes program is to provide access to near real-time and retrospective (two weeks) satellite observations and derived products of the Great Lakes for Federal, state and local decision making, supporting research and public use. Communications requirements and data distribution are accomplished electronically via the Internet.