 |
|
 |
|
|
MEDIA RELEASES FROM EARTHINSITE (Dec 2004)
A NEW COST EFFECTIVE TOOL IN THE SEARCH FOR FISH
Earthinsite.com Pty Ltd recently launched a valuable internet-based tool for professional fishermen, recreational anglers and researchers.
The website, www.seasurface.com, provides instant access to current Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data, in the form of colour-coded images that are updated up to 12 times a day. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data is used in the commercial fishing industry to help identify likely areas where a significant catch may be found.
Anglers can search for a specific location anywhere in Australian coastal waters, and by hovering their mouse over the colour image they can instantly read the surface temperature and coordinates of the location they are pointing at. This information is highly valuable to professional and recreational fishermen who operate in waters several kilometres off-shore. It is also of great benefit to researchers studying the oceans.
The surface temperature of the ocean is affected by currents and upwellings, and a map of the present sea surface temperature provides an indication of where these temperature changes occur. Cool upwelling waters bring nutrients to the surface which mix with warm surface waters, beginning the food chain.
|
Where the colour changes on the map - that's where you'll find your catch.
|
Using the SST Mapper will not guarantee you will find your catch, but it does increase your chances by significantly narrowing down your search area. This saves time, fuel and money because you can zero in on the areas most likely to contain large fish populations.
The innovative SST Mapper developed by Earthinsite for this web site makes this data available in an interactive way for the first time. Its low cost and easy access makes it available to a wide range of users from the professional right through to the recreational user. It is the most convenient and cost effective source of Sea Surface Temperature data in Australia.
Sea Surface Temperature Maps on the site are produced from data recorded by Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors on-board the NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites. This data is then used to produce enhanced colour images showing current sea surface temperatures for the entire Australian Coastline.
Western Angler Magazine said "Game fishermen will find Seasurface.com a valuable asset in chasing bluewater species like marlin and tuna. Given that many of us now participate in national and international tagging research programmes, Seasurface.com is indirectly contributing to research in this area.”
This SeaSurface product has been developed in conjunction with the Satellite Remote Sensing Services of the Western Australian Department of Land Information (DLI) using data collected by DLI and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
|
|
 |
