Three-dimensional thermohaline structure estimation derived from HY-2 satellite data over the Maritime Silk Road and its applications

Abstract

Estimated ocean subsurface fields derived from satellite observations provide potential data sources for operational marine environmental monitoring and prediction systems. This study employs a statistic regression reconstruction method, in combination with domestic autonomous sea surface height and sea surface temperature observations from the Haiyang-2 (HY-2) satellite fusion data, to establish an operational quasi-real-time three-dimensional (3D) temperature and salinity products over the Maritime Silk Road. These products feature a daily temporal resolution and a spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25° and exhibit stability and continuity. We have demonstrated the accuracy of the reconstructed thermohaline fields in capturing the 3D thermohaline variations through comprehensive statistical evaluations, after comparing them against Argo observations and ocean analysis data from 2022. The results illustrate that the reconstructed fields effectively represent seasonal variations in oceanic subsurface structures, along with structural changes resulting from mesoscale processes, and the upper ocean’s responses to tropical cyclones. Furthermore, the incorporation of HY-2 satellite observations notably enhances the accuracy of temperature and salinity reconstructions in the Northwest Pacific Ocean and marginally improves salinity reconstruction accuracy in the North Indian Ocean when compared to the World Ocean Atlas 2018 monthly climatology thermohaline fields. As a result, the reconstructed product holds promise for providing quasi-real-time 3D temperature and salinity field information to facilitate fast decision-making during emergencies, and also offers foundational thermohaline fields for operational ocean reanalysis and forecasting systems. These contributions enhance the safety and stability of ocean subsurface activities and navigation.