Mapping the spatial and temporal variability of the upwelling systems of Australian south-eastern coast using 14-year MODIS data

Southeastern Australia's 4500 km coastline is analyzed using 14 years of monthly MODIS sea surface temperature data to map upwelling systems. The dataset identifies two persistent systems, the New South Wales and western Victoria/South Australia coastal upwellings, and examines their spatial and temporal variability. This research was published by Zhi Huang and Xiao Hua Wang in Remote Sensing of Environment in 2019.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial variability of upwelling area and intensity along the New South Wales coast using mapped upwelling areas and SST anomaly data.
• Model seasonal patterns of the WVIC/SA upwelling system using monthly and seasonal upwelling speed and chlorophyll-a concentration time series.
• Investigate the impact of El Nino and La Nina events on upwelling intensity for both systems using inter-annual variability metrics.
• Compare wind-driven upwelling dynamics in western Victoria against the East Australian Current-driven system in New South Wales using upwelling speed and area of influence data.

Strengths

• 14-year temporal coverage from MODIS satellite data provides a long-term climate perspective
• Analysis covers a 4500 km coastline, offering extensive spatial scope
• Examines multiple upwelling characteristics: area, SST anomaly, chlorophyll-a, and speed

Limitations

• Specific row count, column names, and data granularity are not provided in the description
• Data is derived from a 2019 publication, so it may not include recent years
• Analysis is limited to the southeastern coast of Australia, not the entire continent

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data.gov.au, based on research published in Remote Sensing of Environment.

Collection Method

Semi-automatic image processing of monthly MODIS sea surface temperature satellite data.

Time Range

14-year period (specific years not stated in description).

Freshness

null

Geography

4500 km coastline of southeastern Australia, specifically New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.