Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle–Based Infrared Images in Determining Characteristics of Sea Surface Temperature Distribution

Authors

Hsing-Yu Wang, Assistant Professor, Department of Shipping Technology, College of Maritime, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology
Hui-Ming Fang, Assistant Professor, Bachelor Degree Program in Ocean Engineering and Technology, National Taiwan Ocean University
Yun-Chih Chiang, Associate Professor, Center for General Education, Tzu Chi UniversityFollow

Abstract

This study investigated the temperature field of a body of water by using rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual) comprising visible light and infrared cameras to determine sea temperature distribution. With a flight height of 150 m, image overlap of 80%, and image resolution of 4.75 cm/pixel, the proposed method was more effective than the conventional portable conductivity–temperature–depth device in rapidly measuring sea surface temperature and determining sea temperature distribution. The discharged heated water of the Hoping Power Plant traveled 100–330 m from the wastewater outfall and then gradually diffused in the range of 100–490 m before reaching a similar temperature to the background sea temperature. The diffusion of the thermal plume was mainly affected by regional marine meteorological conditions

Recommended Citation

Wang, Hsing-Yu; Fang, Hui-Ming; and Chiang, Yun-Chih (2023) "Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle–Based Infrared Images in Determining Characteristics of Sea Surface Temperature Distribution," Journal of Marine Science and Technology: Vol. 31: Iss. 1, Article 2.
DOI: 10.51400/2709-6998.2681
Available at: https://jmstt.ntou.edu.tw/journal/vol31/iss1/2