Use of seabirds to monitor sea-surface temperatures and to validate satellite remote-sensing measurements in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

Changes in sea-surface temperature (SST) including the position of the sub-tropical convergence of the southern Indian Ocean were ascertained by using wandering albatrosses Dio~nedea exulans fitted with temperature recorders and by satellite tracking systcms. Fllght phases interspaced with frequent pauses on the sca means that albatrosses make useful tools for studying SST In the Southern Ocean, because in situ measurements (to validate satellite data) are rare because of the remoteness of the area. Comparison of satellite-derived data and measurements using albatrosses indicates a good relationship between the 2 sets of data It is suggested that albatrosses could b e useful for mon-itor~ng SST and validating satellite-derived data In remote areas of the Southern Ocean, particularly ~n winter when cloud cover precludes satellite measurements of SST