Use of seabirds to monitor sea-surface temperatures and to validate satellite remote-sensing measurements in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

Changes in sea-surface temperture (SST) including the position of the sub-tropical convergence of the southern Indian Ocean were ascertained by using wandering albatrosses Diomedea exulans fitted with temperature recorders and by satellite tracking systems. Flight phases interspaced with frequent pauses on the sea means that albatrosses make useful tools for studying SST in the Southern Ocean, because in situ measurements (to validate satellite data) are rare because of the remoteness of the area. Comparison of satellite-derived data and measurements using albatrosses indicate a good relationship between the two sets of data. It is suggested that albatrosses could be useful for monitoring SST and validating satellite-derived data in remote areas of Southern Ocean particularly in winter when cloud cover precludes satellite measurements of SST. -Authors