From Space to the Sea: Oceanography Across Multiple Spatiotemporal Scales

From Space to the Sea: Oceanography Across Multiple Spatiotemporal Scales

From Inspiration Dissemination by KBVR-FM

April 3, 2026 · 1h 6m · Episode 241

About this episode

Alexander Bailess discusses his research combining satellite imagery and field-based oceanography to study marine ecosystems.

Satellite imagery has transformed how scientists study the ocean, particularly true today with the recent launch of a new NASA satellite. However, understanding more of the oceans through satellite imagery requires data validation obtained at sea. In this episode of Inspiration Dissemination, Alexander Bailess shares how he combines remote sensing with field-based oceanography to ground-truth satellite data and better understand marine ecosystems across multiple spatiotemporal scales. Alexander sails aboard research vessels to collect ocean data while satellites pass overhead, while also tracking the harmful phytoplankton Pseudo-nitzschia, some species of which produce the neurotoxin domoic acid responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning. Listen in to hear about Alexander’s research both above and below the ocean, and the path that led him to grad school. Hosted by Matthew Vaughan and Taylor Azizeh.

People in this episode

Hosts: Matthew Vaughan, Taylor Azizeh

Guest: Alexander Bailess

Topics covered

  • oceanography
  • satellite imagery
  • remote sensing
  • marine ecosystems
  • phytoplankton
  • research methods

Keywords

  • oceanography
  • satellite data
  • remote sensing
  • phytoplankton
  • marine ecosystems
  • research vessels
  • domoic acid

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NASA

Products: domoic acid

Places: ocean, research vessels, marine ecosystems, grad school

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