Preface: Interdisciplinary multi-sensor studies of the Pacific and Indian Oceans
Authors: Nimit K., Levy G., Vignudelli S., Gower J.
Journal: International Journal of Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.1080/01431161.2020.1766293
Abstract:
This is a special issue featuring a selection of research papers presented at the 14th Biennial Pan Ocean Remote Sensing Conference (PORSEC) in November 2018, and follows six previous special IJRS issues of PORSEC meetings held in Busan, Korea; Guangzhou, China; Keelung, Taiwan; Kochi, India; Bali, Indonesia; and Fortaleza, Brazil (Levy and Gower 2008, 2010, 2012; Gower and Levy 2014; Levy, Vigundelli, and Gower 2016, 2018). PORSEC was initially established during the International Space Year 1990, as the Pacific Ocean Remote Sensing Conference – an organization dedicated to helping developing nations around the Pacific Rim stimulate their science programmes focused on the applications of remote sensing technology to Ocean Sciences. Primarily through volunteer efforts, and with some support from the host countries and national and international agencies that share its principles, the PORSEC Association has held biennial scientific meetings since 1992, which have rapidly expanded and gained global status as prestigious remote sensing conferences, with a scope covering all the world’s oceans. The goal of the meetings and the associated training courses, held regularly since 2000, is to further the understanding of the Earth’s environmental processes, and to assist in training, education, and capacity-building. As the landscape of earth observing systems has been changing in the past three decades, with many nations moving forward with missions, many with a regional focus, PORSEC has continued in its efforts to advance science capabilities and to build a bridge to the future, while expanding to new regions and countries, such as India and the Indian Ocean, and Brazil and the Atlantic. Conferences take advantage of the unique perspectives provided by satellite remote sensing technology and those of the host country/region, while striving to protect the ocean and atmosphere and promote sustainable use and development of oceanic and coastal resources. PORSEC 2018 and the preceding capacity-building course were held in Jeju Island, the Republic of Korea, and hosted by the Korea Ocean Satellite Centre (KOSC) of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) that is in charge of the operation of the Geostationary Ocean Colour Imager (GOCI), and provides real-time satellite operation, scientific algorithm, and application technique development, operational computing system development, and sensor/hardware development for GOCI/GOCI-II. In kind and financial support from domestic organizations (Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau (JejuCVB), Korea Tourism Organization) and international space science and research agencies (CNES (the French Centre National des Etudes Spatiales), INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Ministry of Earth Sciences), NESDIS (the US National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service), ONRG (the US Office of Naval Research Global)).
