The African Seas include marginal basins of two major oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, a miniature ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and an infant ocean, the Red Sea. Understanding the wide spectrum of environmental features and processes of such a varied collection of marine and coastal regions requires that in situ observation systems be integrated and actually guided, by the application of orbital remote sensing techniques. This volume reviews the current potential of Earth Observations to help in the exploration of the marginal seas around Africa, by virtue of both passive and active techniques, working in several spectral ranges – i.e. measuring either reflected visible and near-infrared sunlight, as well as surface emissions in the thermal infrared and microwave spectral regions, or again the surface reflection of transmitted lidar or radar impulses of visible or microwave radiation. The in-depth evaluation of the advantages offered by each technique and spectral region and inparticular by the development of advanced multi-technique systems, contributes to the assessment of the abundant natural resources that the Seas of Africa have to offer, of those in dear need of being – sustainably – exploited and of others that should be protected and maintained in their still pristine conditions.
"In the book, Remote Sensing of African Seas, a collection of 20 peer-reviewed papers ... cover a broad range of diverse ocean-related studies focused on Africa. ... This book is recommended for marine managers, researchers, instructors, and others who seek insight into integrating in situ marine observations with remotely sensed data, understanding remote sensing instruments applicable to the marine environment, and investigating the latest techniques for establishing marine baseline assessments that can be used for monitoring future change." (Steven R. Schill, Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, Vol. 82 (5), May, 2016)