Marine bacteria monitoring via polarimetric SAR

Marine surface bacteria exist at the uppermost 1mm of the ocean. Although a number of studies have suggested the peculiarities of such marine ecosystems little detailed information is currently available. First and controlled in situ experiments have been conceived and implemented by the NOVA Southeastern University Oceanographic Center in the Strait of Florida (USA). Analysis of the in situ data involves a careful sampling strategy and DNA characterization of the marine bacteria in the sea surface microlayer marine through analyses the 16S rRNA genes. In this paper a complementary remote sensing visibility analysis of the marine surface microlayer is accomplished. The quad-pol RADARSAT 2 and dual-pol COSMO SkyMed SAR data and the Co-Polarized Phase difference (CPD) algorithms are used to monitor from space the microlayer. Results show how polarimetric SAR can assist oceanographic researchers to detect the surfactant transforming marine bacteria within the sea surface microlayer.