The primary purpose of this research was to perform an analysis of the constancy of the sea-surface temperature in candidate locations for OTEC siting. Most in situ data available to determine the constancy of the sea surface temperature were obtained using point sensors that recorded surface temperature at specific points and at specific times or for some specific period. These data, while establishing certain gross or average patterns, are inadequate for describing short-term temperature variations for large areas and are insufficient for assessing the constancy of the temperature patterns relative to selecting potential sites for OTEC. The only data available for analysis of the synoptic ocean surface temperature pattern are those obtained in the last five years by infrared scanning radiometer systems on earth observational satellites. For this study, the satellite infrared (ir) data for the period 1973-1977 were used to identify and locate major thermal fronts at the sea surface. These data were then used to glean certain statistics on these fronts. In situ data were used, when available, to determine temperature difference across specified thermal fronts. This study was performed in three regional locations of interest to OTEC. The specific regions are: Region I, Eastern Gulf of Mexico (bounded by 22 N to 30 N and 91 W to the west coast of Florida including the Straits of Florida); Region II, the east coast of Florida (bounded by 23 N to 32 N and the east coast of Florida to 79 W); and Region III, Puerto Rico and vicinity, (bounded by 17 to 19 N, 64 to 68 W). Results are presented and discussed.

The chapter is divided into 5 parts. The first part describes what the satellite data is and describes the levels of its processing. In the second part, attention is paid to sea surface temperature anomalies, the conditions for the appearance of the most significant anomalies and their influence on the behavior and survival of aquatic organisms are described. The third part is devoted to calculating linear trends in ocean surface temperature from a 20-year series of satellite data. It is shown that the heat content of the surface layer of Okhotsk Sea decreases, most significantly in its northern and western parts. This trend is especially pronounced in the spring, which may be due to a decrease in ice cover and a more significant cooling of the waters due to winter convection. In the fourth part, periodic fluctuations in the temperature of the surface of the ocean are considered. It is demonstrated how, using the calculated trend and several basic harmonics, one can try to predict the temperature next year. And the last part concludes the chapter.

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