Global ocean observations and applications by China’s ocean satellite constellation

Satellite remote sensing data form the basis of ocean observation and applications. China has established a satellite network platform comprising ocean color satellite constellations, ocean dynamic environment satellite constellations, and ocean observation and monitoring satellite constellations. This platform provides consistent and reliable ocean observation data crucial for marine scientific research, economic development, and early warning and forecasting. This paper comprehensively describes the development process and plans for China’s ocean satellites from their inception. It offers detailed technical specifications of ocean satellites and outlines the current applications of ocean water color satellites (HY-1), ocean dynamics and environment satellites (HY-2), and ocean surveillance and monitoring satellites (GF-3) in ocean parameter inversion, target identification and detection, and early warning and forecasting. In the future, to enhance the level of industrialization in ocean remote sensing in China, it is imperative to leverage the diversity and timeliness of ocean remote sensing data. Additionally, emerging technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence should be harnessed, and the application potential of various satellite data resources should be explored.