Monitoring spatial and temporal distribution of Sea Surface Temperature with TIR sensor data

This study was primarily aimed at verifying the potentiality of medium spatial resolution Thermal Infrared (TIR) data in monitoring environmental aspects strictly correlated to SST (Sea Surface Temperature), such as industrial cooling water discharges and the increase in seawater temperature over time, at two coastal sites in the Apulia region (Italy). TIR data acquired by LANDSAT ETM+ and ASTER satellite instruments were used to observe SST and provide insight into its spatial variability, in this case totally lacking information from conventional in situ measurements. The spatial information obtained, clearly mapped for its visual interpretation, can significantly contribute to improving general surface near-shore water quality monitoring.