MARSIS programme was initiated in 1990 to develop capabilities for utilizing remote sensing data of ocean and coastal zone for generation of useful ocean data products and to disseminate these products to the end users on an operational basis. Five MARSIS centres have been set-up on the east and west coasts for interacting with down stream users. The programme is carried out with National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad as the nodal organization and with the active participation of national institutes viz. National Institute of Oceanography, Goa; Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad; Institute for Ocean Management - Anna University, Chennai; Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi; Orissa State Remote Sensing Application Centre, Bhubaneshwar; and Centre for Mathematical and Computer Simulations, Bangalore.

Potential Fishing Zone advisories were generated regularly and disseminated to about 170 fish landing centres, twice a week except during monsoon season. Coastal wet-land maps for all the maritime states were developed and made available to end users with detailed classification. Maps showing shore-line changes between 1970 and 1990 have been prepared for the entire coastal stretch. Under the Microwave Remote Sensing Programme, models for retrieval of sea surface wind vectors, for water vapour retrieval and estimation of Mixed Layer depth from wind stress, sea level changes and net-heat gain at the ocean surface, were developed. Latent Heat flux over Indian Ocean on an experimental basis using 1988 satellite data, was estimated.

The sea truth data collection for validation of satellite derived data was continued by deploying 9 low cost drifting buoys and 4 multi-parameter drifting buoys. Three special campaigns of ORV Sagar Kanya were carried out for validation of MOS(Modular Opto-electronic Scanner) sensor of 1RS P3. Data on phytoplankton pigments, yellow substance, sediment concentration, primary production, spectral attenuation, back-scattering, wind velocity, wave height, humidity etc. were collected in conjunction with 1RS-P3 passes over the Indian Ocean.

Under the Ocean Modelling project, a basin scale model is being attempted using Modular Ocean Model(MOM) Version 2. Preliminary comparisons between sea surface height from satellites and model outputs indicate an agreement between the two, over a typical year. Under the air-sea interaction studies, a numerical model of intermediate complexity is being developed to investigate ocean-atmosphere coupled variabilities in the tropics. The marine ecosystem model developed and tested earlier at Somalia region was tested for another station in the Arabian Sea. The effect of upwelling on different state variables and fluxes is under investigation.

Coastal Zone Information System(CZIS) for Tamil Nadu and Chilka lagoon was completed for supporting coastal zone management activities. For the remaining states data are being collected.