Analysis of the sea surface temperature (SST) of the Caspian Sea from NOAA Satellites

Abstract

The sea surface temperature (SST) of the Caspian Sea as a whole is determined by air
temperature, depth, that is, heat reserve, wind characteristics (mixing) and advection. In
different regions of this continental sea, in addition to the connection with air temperature
common to all regions, their own factors dominate. For the Northern Caspian, this is primarily
the influence of river runoff - warm continental runoff in spring and cool in autumn. In the
Middle Caspian, deep-water rises near the eastern and western shores, reaching temperature
contrasts of up to 15°C near the eastern shore. In the South Caspian, this is winter wind mixing
and advection of waters from the Middle Caspian. In the daytime, in the spring-summer
months, the heating of the sea manifests itself everywhere in the form of patches of warm
water with temperature contrasts of more than 3°C - calm zones. In shallow water in the spring
and autumn months, zones of heating and cooling are clearly visible, respectively, and the rate
of heating and cooling is the higher, the shallower the depth of the sea, that is, the lower its
heat reserve. The paper analyzes the available modern methods and means for determining
the surface water temperature of the Caspian Sea. For their detection, data obtained by NOAA
satellites and the AVHRR Pathfinder instrument (high-resolution radiometer) installed on
them are used. And the main regularities in the atmosphere-sea system are revealed according
to the average annual values of their changes over a long period of time.