Skip navigation

# Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA)

Science Serving Coastal Communities

        -  Home            - NCCOS Home
          - Other NCCOS Centers 
        -  About Us            - Biogeography
          - COAST
          - Accomplishments
          - Contact Us 
        -  News & Features            - Press Release Archive 
        -  Research            - Search by Location
          - Search by Stressor
          - Search by Ecosystem
          - Advanced Search 
        -  Publications & Products             - 						        Biogeography Publications & Products 
          - COAST						        Products 
        -  Data            - National Status & Trends
          - Hurricane Katrina
          - NCCOS Data
          - Biogeography Data 
        -  Opportunities            - For Students
          - Post Grads & Job Seekers 

### Biogeography Home

 

 

 

 

HomeEcosystemsNational Marine Sanctuaries*Interpretive Summary of Ocean Climate and Regional Processes through Satellite Remote Sensing*

## An Oceanographic Characterization of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Pacific Northwest: *Interpretive Summary of Ocean Climate and Regional Processes through Satellite Remote Sensing*

Quick Link to ProductsTwo-page Project Summary (PDF)

### Objectives

NOAA’s Center for Coastal Monitoring and  Assessment, in collaboration with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries  (ONMS) and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS), compiled a  comprehensive report describing the oceanographic conditions and climatological  processes for the Olympic Coast Marine Sanctuary.

The objectives of the characterization were to:
        - Identify, obtain, and perform regional syntheses  on pertinent long-term satellite data to characterize the physical and  oceanographic conditions within the PNW, and specifically the OCNMS; and
        - Summarize surface patterns, features, and  underlying processes governing oceanographic variability and climate as  depicted through satellite remote sensing for consideration in National Marine Protected  Area biodi­versity/conservation evaluations, management plan reviews, ecosystem  assessments, and other decision-support initiatives.

 Expected goals were to provide a climatological baseline for evaluating future oceanographic trends and anomalies in the data, and to document the analytical requirements for integrating satellite remotes sensing into NOAA- supported programs.

### Project Summary

The  53-page report was structured to provide an innovative approach for presenting  a suite of highly computational satellite oceanographic datasets, through  conventional maps, color time series diagrams (Hovmöller), and statistical  plots of variable correlations. The result was a unique representation of  Pacific Northwest ocean climate and behavior addressing the governing  oceanographic features and processes affecting the OCNMS and its biological  resources.

This remote sensing baseline is central for  understanding the region in a broader context and how the biology, ocean  conditions and processes of a region can change through time. Next steps are to  integrate climatological baseline information from satellite with coastal ocean  modeling outputs, spatial habitat data, and key biological/ecological  information to support a wide array of marine ecosystem-based science  applications.  The work also represents  the first of many steps to address present and future management questions  posed by the OCNMS, and will be important in marine spatial planning efforts that focus on the interactions of  oceans, resources, and habitats.

### Products

*Current/Completed -*

Reports and Publications
        - Two-page Project Summary (PDF) 
        - An Oceanographic  Characterization of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Pacific  Northwest: Interpretive Summary of  Ocean Climate and Regional Processes through Satellite Remote Sensing: 2009   (Hi-resolution PDF, 82MB)
        - An Oceanographic  Characterization of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Pacific  Northwest: Interpretive Summary of  Ocean Climate and Regional Processes through Satellite Remote Sensing: 2009 (Low  resolution PDF, 22MB)
        - Individual Report Chapters  (PDFs)                                   - Front Cover
          - Executive Summary
          - Chapter 1- Introduction
          - Chapter 2- Data and Methods
          - Chapter 3- Results
          - Chapter 4- Conclusions
          - References
          - Acknowledgments
          - Back Cover 

Data:For specific data products, contact Doug Pirhalla.

### Partners

        - Olympic  Coast National Marine Sanctuary 
        - Office of National Marine  Sanctuaries 
        - Cooperative Institute  for Oceanographic Satellite Studies
        - Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems
        - Washington Coastal Treaty Tribes			          

### Relevant Links

        -  COAST (Coastal Ocean Assessments,  Status and Trends) 
        -  Physical  Oceanographic Characterizations 
        -  Cooperative  Institute for Oceanographic Studies, Oregon State University
        - University of Washington School of Oceanography
        - State of Washington Department of Ecology
        - West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health
        - Pacific Coast Ocean Observing System
        - Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO)
        - Sanctuaries Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN)
        - Biogeographic Assessment of Central and Northern California National Marine   Sanctuaries, Phase I & II
        - Biogeographic Assessment of  Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to Support Boundary Alternative  Assessments
        - Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
        - Hoh Indian Tribe
        - Makah Nation
        - Quileute Nation
        - Quinault Indian Nation

### Time Frame

Completed: January 2007 - April 2009

### For More Information

> 
**Project Manager:**Doug Pirhalla(COAST)1305 East West HighwaySSMC-IV, N/SCI-1Silver Spring, MD 20910301-713-3028 x167

> 
Randy Clark(Biogeo)					1305 East West Highway					SSMC-IV, N/SCI-1					Silver Spring, MD  20910					301-713-3028 x157 

----

Home					| About Us					| Contact Us                    | Accessibility                    | Search                    | Disclaimer                     | Privacy Policy                    | Employees                     | User Survey

----

Web Site Owner: Center for Coastal Monitoring and AssessmentThis page was last updated on                                         July 13, 2010. Freedom of Information Act
USA.gov |             US DOC |             NOAA |             NOS |            NCCOS