Ecosystem indicators derived from satellite remotely sensed oceanographic data for the North Pacific
Abstract Satellite remotely sensed oceanographic data provide reliable global ocean coverage of sea surface temperature, sea surface height, surface winds, and ocean colour, with relatively high spatial and temporal resolution. We illustrate approaches to use these data to construct indicators that describe aspects of ecosystem dynamics in the North Pacific. Specifically, altimetry data are used to construct regional indicators of the ocean vertical structure, ocean colour data to describe the temporal chlorophyll dynamics of the coastal zone, ocean colour, sea surface temperature, and altimetry data to develop indices of biologically important ocean features, and finally altimetry data to drive a larval transport model and develop an index of larval retention. Recent changes in the North Pacific based on these indices are discussed.