At the NIO, data on sea surface temperature (SST) and the presence of phytoplanktons which indicate availability of marine life will be accessible to fishermen. NIO sources say the institute's receiving station obtains high resolution picture transmission (HRPT) from the SEAWIFS and NOAA satellites of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

NIO, which is the only station to provide data from the SEAWIFS on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is already providing data on climate, monsoon, sea interactions and related topics to the scientific community. Data availability will be further improved when the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite(IRS-P4) is launched in late-May. The IRS-P4 which is equipped with higher spatial resolution equipment than the NASA satellites. At present, NIO is conducting validation experiments on the satellite, prior to its launch.

The Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) on board the IRS would help researchers obtained detailed information about the presence of phytoplankton, sediment and dissolved matter. Scientists say when light enters the water it is either absorbed or scattered by the constituents in the water and by the water itself. Each constituent has its peculiar characteristics which

is reflected from the ocean. NIO sources say this data obtained from the Oceansats can be used.

For instance, phytoplankton helps determine the productivity of the ocean. Phytoplanktons are uni-cellular algae that form the beginning of the food chain in the ocean. They get their energy for growth from sunlight. Areas rich in phytoplankton indicate abundance of marine life as fish generally feed on it.

Ocean colour data could alsohelp in Environment Impact Assessment studies in the coastal areas. Discharge of effluents or toxic waste into the sea significantly alters the water colour and is thus detectable by satellite, say NIO scientists.