Masaki Ohotani

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Masaki Ohotani is a coastal oceanographer whose work centers on the dynamics of sea surface temperature (SST) and water circulation in semi-enclosed bays, with a particular focus on Kagoshima Bay in southern Japan. His most cited study, “Ocean Water Inflow into Kagoshima Bay” (1998), demonstrates his pioneering use of thermal infrared imagery from Landsat/TM satellites to visualize the intrusion of open-ocean water into the bay. By correlating these satellite-derived SST patterns with in-situ temperature data from a buoy robot stationed at Kanoya, Ohotani provided a clear, observation-based framework for understanding how oceanic water masses influence coastal environments. Though his citation count is modest—his landmark paper has garnered 3 citations—his work represents an early, methodical integration of remote sensing and autonomous monitoring technologies in regional oceanography. This contribution is especially valuable for researchers studying coastal circulation, estuarine dynamics, and the application of satellite data to local-scale marine processes. Ohotani’s research remains a reference point for those investigating the interplay between satellite observations and ground-truth measurements in complex coastal systems.