STUDIES OF SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN SELECTED NORTHERN NORWEGIAN FJORDS USING LANDSAT TM DATA

Remote sensing is evaluated as a tool for studying oceanographic pheno mena. Data from the infrared channel of Thematic Mapper onboard Landsa t 5 were used to map the spatial distribution of sea surface temperatu res in selected fjords in northern Norway. Sea surface temperature cha rts provided clear indications of surface current patterns, upwellings , convergences, etc. The complex pattern of currents found in fjords i s, to varying degrees, affected by tides and fresh water run-off, as w ell as by hydrographic, meteorological and topographical conditions. I n northern Norway the surface circulation is strongly influenced by in land cold air flows during prolonged periods of cold weather. This stu dy demonstrates that remotely sensed data can be used as an important supplement to traditional hydrographical and meteorological observatio ns in order to understand the distribution of temperatures and circula tion patterns in the surface layers of fjords and coastal waters.