Fishing fleet lights and sea surface temperature distribution observed by DMSP/OLS sensor

A night-time OLS (Operational Linescan System) visible-near-infrared (VNIR) channel image of the DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) was overlaid on the simultaneously corrected OLS thermal infrared (TIR) channel image for the area around Japan. The OLS composite image showed a clear relationship between the location of fishing fleet lights detected by the VNIR channel and the sea surface temperature (SST) distribution observed by the TIR channel. Many fishing fleets were located at the cold side of the boundary area between warm currents and cold currents. Since some types of fish are likely to gather in certain sea temperature zones, the OLS composite image may provide useful information for the monitoring of fishing fleets as well as for marine resources management.