NASA satellites can see internal ocean tides

NASA satellites can see internal ocean tides Today’s Video of the Day from NASA Goddard describes a complex network of underwater waves that can help move heat into the ocean known as internal tides. 

Satellites allow scientists to see how internal tides move and flow in the ocean. According to NASA, the waves can be as big as hundreds of feet but on the ocean surface, they are often only a few inches high – barely large enough to notice.

Internal tides provide scientists with a way to map and study water motion, as well as the subsequent mixing between warm shallow water and cold deeper water, which is thought to move heat from global warming of Earth’s atmosphere down into the ocean interior.

NASA’s first attempt at two-way space communication using an optical laser instead of radio waves, also  is expected to lead to operational laser systems on NASA satellites for many future years. In November 2013, laser communication from a jet platform Tornado was successfully demonstrated for the first time. .Also now  there are nearly 6,000 satellites circling our tiny planet. About 60% of those are defunct satellites-space junk-and roughly 40% are operational. NASA satellites can see internal ocean tides

Video Credit: NASA Goddard 

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer