NOCS's Laboratory for Satellite Oceanography (LSO) brings together expertise in Remote Sensing from across the NOCS. The LSO provides opportunities for the wider community - in oceanography, climate science and the public sector - to benefit from the exciting developments in remote sensing of the oceans.

The aims of the LSO are to develop and apply remote sensing techniques to the study of the physics, biology and bio-geochemistry of the ocean, in the context of ocean circulation and climate. Techniques and applications to oceanography of active (radar) and passive microwave, infrared and visible wavelength remote sensing methods are developed. Instruments are developed for deployment at sea for calibration of satellite sensors. Algorithms are being developed for improved ocean interpretation of remote sensing data, and new data processing techniques are being produced.

The image below shows sea surface temperature off South Africa showing warm water (in red) being brought from the Indian Ocean by the Agulhas current. Some of the water escapes into the South Atlantic as warm core eddies (courtesy LSO)	Here is the sea surface temperature in the same region from the OCCAM 1/12 degree resolution model. Click on the figure for a movie (2.8Mb) from the model.