U.S. Naval Academy Spring Semester 2007 Remote Sensing Class:
Research Project Utilizing Giovanni - West Box

Research Project Results - West Box

The West Box, located in the Taiwan Strait, exhibits the strongest correlations between parameters, and is perhaps the box in which the relationships are easiest to understand.

Chl a and SST plot (left):   Chl a and SST have a moderate negative correlation in the West Box (-0.582).  Due to proximity to the coast, elevated chl a in the winter is likely due to suspended sediments and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the water column, caused by the winter monsoon winds, and not primarily due to phytoplankton activity.

nLw(551) and SST plot (right):   nLw(551) and SST have a strong negative correlation (-0.804). This correlation is consistent with the suspension and transport of sediments from the Yellow Sea and coastal sediments by the winter monsoon winds in the Taiwan Strait.  Elevated nLw(551) values in this box also support the possibility of erroneously high chl a values during the winter.

Chl a, K490, and nLw(551) plot:  Chl a and K490 are positively correlated (0.957);   nLw(551) and K490 also have a strong positive correlation (0.721). The explanation here is consistent with the winter monsoon winds inducing sediment suspension and transport in the Taiwan Strait. 

Introduction -- East -- North -- West -- South