Toward Improved Validation of Satellite Sea Surface Skin Temperature Measurements for Climate Research.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Toward Improved Validation of Satellite Sea Surface Skin Temperature Measurements for Climate Research.
Authors:	Donlon, C. J., Minnett, P. J., Gentemann, C., Nightingale, T. J., Barton, I. J., Ward, B., Murray, M. J.
Source:	Journal of Climate. Feb2002, Vol. 15 Issue 4, p353. 17p. 1 Diagram, 1 Chart, 5 Graphs, 2 Maps.
Subjects:	Ocean temperature, Radiometers, Measurement
Abstract:	A poor validation strategy will compromise the quality of satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) products because confidence limits cannot be quantified. This paper addresses the question of how to provide the best operational strategy to validate satellite-derived skin sea surface temperature (SST[sub skin] ) measurements. High quality in situ observations obtained using different state-of-the-art infrared radiometer systems are used to characterize the relationship between the SST[sub skin] , the subsurface SST at depth (SST[sub depth] ), and the surface wind speed. Data are presented for different oceans and seasons. These data indicate that above a wind speed of approximately 6 m s[sup -1] the relationship between the SST[sub skin] and SST[sub depth] , is well characterized for both day- and nighttime conditions by a cool bias of -0.17 ± 0.07 K rms. At lower wind speeds, stratification of the upper-ocean layers during the day may complicate the relationship, while at night a cooler skin is normally observed. Based on these observations, a long-term global satellite SST[sub skin] validation strategy is proposed. Emphasis is placed on the use of autonomous, ship-of-opportunity radiometer systems for areas characterized by prevailing low–wind speed conditions. For areas characterized by higher wind speed regimes, well-calibrated, quality-controlled, ship and buoy SST[sub depth] observations, corrected for a cool skin bias, should also be used. It is foreseen that SST[sub depth] data will provide the majority of in situ validation data required for operational satellite SST validation. We test the strategy using SST[sub skin] observations from the Along Track Scanning Radiometer, which are shown to be accurate to approximately 0.2 K in the tropical Pacific Ocean, and using measurements from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. We note that this strategy provides for robust retrospective calibration and validation of satellite ... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	A poor validation strategy will compromise the quality of satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) products because confidence limits cannot be quantified. This paper addresses the question of how to provide the best operational strategy to validate satellite-derived skin sea surface temperature (SST[sub skin] ) measurements. High quality in situ observations obtained using different state-of-the-art infrared radiometer systems are used to characterize the relationship between the SST[sub skin] , the subsurface SST at depth (SST[sub depth] ), and the surface wind speed. Data are presented for different oceans and seasons. These data indicate that above a wind speed of approximately 6 m s[sup -1] the relationship between the SST[sub skin] and SST[sub depth] , is well characterized for both day- and nighttime conditions by a cool bias of -0.17 ± 0.07 K rms. At lower wind speeds, stratification of the upper-ocean layers during the day may complicate the relationship, while at night a cooler skin is normally observed. Based on these observations, a long-term global satellite SST[sub skin] validation strategy is proposed. Emphasis is placed on the use of autonomous, ship-of-opportunity radiometer systems for areas characterized by prevailing low–wind speed conditions. For areas characterized by higher wind speed regimes, well-calibrated, quality-controlled, ship and buoy SST[sub depth] observations, corrected for a cool skin bias, should also be used. It is foreseen that SST[sub depth] data will provide the majority of in situ validation data required for operational satellite SST validation. We test the strategy using SST[sub skin] observations from the Along Track Scanning Radiometer, which are shown to be accurate to approximately 0.2 K in the tropical Pacific Ocean, and using measurements from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. We note that this strategy provides for robust retrospective calibration and validation of satellite ... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	08948755
DOI:	10.1175/1520-0442(2002)015<0353:TIVOSS>2.0.CO;2