Remote Sensing technology can be used to monitor and manage the marine environment. The project done by our group during  the Environmental Studies Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation (1999) has allowed us to understand how data are gathered and used for studies of coastal waters. We were able to identify imagery showing upwelling events and compare the sea surface temperature images to corresponding images of algal productivity. The qualitative comparison of color patterns in the imagery as well as the more definitive comparison of temperature and chlorophyll-a concentrations along co-located plot lines, show that upwelling along the New Jersey  Long Island coasts has resulted in algal blooms. Look at data from the graphs  for specifics- distance, temperature, and chlorophyll-a concentration. (See SSTand Chlorophyll Density images). In the images for sea surface temperature, the wavelengths from the thermal portion of the electromagnetic spectrum are used to identify temperature. The colors range from red to violet, with red having the highest sea surface temperature, and violet the lowest. In the SeaWiFs images, the colors range from red to violet, but red has the highest chlorophyll density, and violet the lowest. The graphs show that the low temperatures along the coast are associated with high chlorophyll density, whereas, further from the coast, the low temperatures are associated low chlorophyll density. We can deduce from this occurrence that the cold water associated with the upwelling along the coast is responsible for the algal blooms- hence high chlorophyll density along the coast.

The upwelling events have special significance for commercial fishermen and weather enthusiasts. Algal blooms result in the proliferation of several species of marine organisms that are used by humans as a source of food. At the same time, large blooms can use up all the oxygen in the bottom waters as the algae settle and decay, leading to stress or mortality of shellfish and other bottom dwelling species. Further research into the dynamics of upwelling can result in better fisheries and marine resource management. The interpretations extrapolated from the remote sensing are limited, and more careful studies by scientists involved in coastal environmental management are needed, so that the entire populace will be aware of the importance of the caring for and protecting the marine environment. The marine environment serves us as a source of food, leisure, and relaxation.

The study and interpretation done by the 1999 Environmental Institute was limited to a quick sampling of modern research capabilities using remote sensing data.  Given more time and a curricular focus, this project can be adapted to a classroom investigation of oceanic processes, especially in the context of Earth System Science. The upwelling events are a good vehicle for exploring coupled systems (i.e. physical and biological), feedback loops, and policy aspects of managing our coastal resources.