Satellite Oceanography
Cutting-edge satellite technology provides NOAA Fisheries scientists and managers with the most accurate data so they can make informed decisions about the management of our marine resources.
Satellites Help Us Manage Marine Resources
We can learn a lot from data collected by satellites orbiting the earth. Satellites provide NOAA scientists with a “bigger picture” view of our planet, including our ocean, lakes, waterways, and coastal areas.
Satellite technologies offer unique insights into how animal movements or environmental features change in space and over time. They provide tremendous value in the management of fishery resources. On a changing planet, these observations provide vital context to help understand the drivers of marine species distribution and ecosystem health.
Satellites have enabled the development of many fisheries-relevant tools and applications that allow NOAA scientists and managers to:
- Reduce human interactions with protected species, such as sea turtles and sharks
- Improve stock assessments and refine catch quotas
- Identify and plan for changes in the marine food web
- Forecast catch rates of commercially important fish, such as bigeye tuna
- Assess the effectiveness of ecosystem restoration efforts
- Use Artificial Intelligence to assess marine animal populations
- Determine how marine heat waves impact animal migration patterns
As satellite technology continues to advance, we will be able to collect more accurate, higher resolution data and make our marine resource management strategies even more effective.
Data
NOAA Fisheries scientists collect many different types of data using satellites, such as ocean color and sea surface temperature.
Applications
How does NOAA Fisheries use satellites? From animal telemetry to monitoring illegal fishing activity, satellites contribute to effective marine resource management.
Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO)
In 2032, NOAA plans to launch its next-generation geostationary satellite series, GeoXO. Learn more about this revolutionary satellite series.