Satellite-derived sea surface temperature - Workshop comparisons

A series of three workshops was held between January 1983 and February 1984 to assess the current status of global sea surface temperature (SST) measurement from space. Workshop participants included sensor scientists, radiative transfer specialists, and users of SST data in the disciplines of oceanography and climate. Data from four satellite sensors (three infrared and one microwave) were evaluated by direct comparison with each other and with data from ships, XBTs, and buoys. The satellite data showed good agreement in a global rms sense (about 0.5-1.0 C), but several anomalous regional biases were also observed. The nature of these biases and techniques for their removal require further study.