Internal wave detection using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)

Abstract

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), with its combined attributes of fine spatial resolution, large swath area, and near‐daily global coverage, has for the first time allowed sunglint (the near‐specular reflectance pattern of sunlight off the ocean surface) to be used to analyze and survey high‐frequency nonlinear internal solitary wave occurrences on a near‐global scale. The sunglint area within the MODIS swath is large enough to cover an entire basin, and it's spatial resolution is fine enough to identify internal wave signatures whose wavelength is greater than a few hundred meters. This paper describes the use of MODIS for high‐frequency nonlinear internal wave detection, presents the results of a survey that detected 3581 internal wave occurrences in MODIS imagery over the period between August 2002 through May 2004, and discusses ways MODIS imagery can be used to improve the study of internal waves.