"Oceanography From the Space Shuttle," an out-of-print, 200-page limited edition pictorial survey of oceanic phenomena visible to the naked eye from space has been published on the World Wide Web by the Goddard DAAC. Don't let the size of this volume put you off - this site is organized for efficient, remarkably quick navigation.
As scientific knowledge of the world's oceans increased and as accuracy of the physics in oceanographic forecasting models improved, the need became clear for a real-time, global, daily oceanographic observation system. To be cost effective, such a system had to be unmanned with various sensors onboard to collect image data. However, the human eye and brain, with the aid of optics, can observe oceanographic phenomena in the visual part of the electromagnetic spectrum over broader physical scales and between more subtle changes in color than any unmanned sensor technology currently flying in space. Consequently humans in space and books of this nature are unique tools for oceanographic research.
Originally prepared in 1989 as a joint project of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and the Office of Naval Research, United States Navy, "Oceanography From the Space Shuttle" was conceived in late 1985 for the purpose of educating and stimulating those who conduct oceanographic research and to illustrate the ocean's complexity to those who operate on or below the ocean's surface. This volume is an excellent collection of oceanographic photos taken by U.S. astronauts from space.
To see what our astronauts saw, go to http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/OCDST/shuttle_oceanography_web/oss_c over.html
click on the Shuttle, and then follow the arrows pointing right (or you can reach any page from the table of contents). Thumbnail images give a preview of each chapter's hi-res photographs. For more information about the site, viewing the images, and awards we've won, link to Appendix D: Web Site Notes.