Study on application potentiality of the first China's ocean satellite HY-1A

China has launched her first ocean color satellite HY-1A on May 15,2002 since American ocean color satellite SeaSTAR was on the orbit in 1997.First,the properties and characteristics of HY-1A are briefly introduced; second,the quality and availability are evaluated by means of the complex signal noise ratio(CSNR) which is simulated theoretically; third,the received HY-1A data are compared with SeaSTAR data to understand the accuracy of radiance measurement by the HY-1A; finally,the remote sensing products of ocean color and temperature are mapped to study the application potentiality of HY-1A.The results show that the HY-1A has its latent capability for the application of marine environment detection,the management and protection of marine resources,and the national rights and interests.Meanwhile some suggestions are proposed to modify the next ocean satellite.