Observational needs of sea surface temperature

Sea surface temperature (SST) is a fundamental physical variable for understanding, quantifying and predicting complex interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere. Such processes determine how heat from the sun is redistributed across the global oceans, directly impacting large- and small-scale weather and climate patterns. The provision of daily maps of global SST for operational systems, climate modeling and the broader scientific community is now a mature and sustained service coordinated by the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST) and the CEOS SST Virtual Constellation (CEOS SST-VC). Data streams are shared, indexed, processed, quality controlled, analyzed, and documented within a Regional/Global Task Sharing (R/GTS) framework, which is implemented internationally in a distributed manner. Products rely on a combination of low-Earth orbit infrared and microwave satellite imagery, geostationary orbit infrared satellite imagery, and in situ data from moored and drifting buoys, Argo floats, and a suite of independent, fully characterized and traceable in situ measurements for product validation (Fiducial Reference Measurements, FRM). Research and development continues to tackle problems such as instrument calibration, algorithm development, diurnal variability, derivation of high-quality skin and depth temperatures, and areas of specific interest such as the high latitudes and coastal areas. In this white paper, we review progress versus the challenges we set out 10 years ago in a previous paper, highlight remaining and new research and development challenges for the next 10 years (such as the need for sustained continuity of passive microwave SST using a 6.9 GHz channel), and conclude with needs to achieve an integrated global high-resolution SST observing system, with focus on satellite observations exploited in conjunction with in situ SSTs. The paper directly relates to the theme of Data Information Systems and also contributes to Ocean Observing Governance and Ocean Technology and Networks within the OceanObs2019 objectives. Applications of SST contribute to all the seven societal benefits, covering Discovery; Ecosystem Health & Biodiversity; Climate Variability & Change; Water, Food, & Energy Security; Pollution & Human Health; Hazards and Maritime Safety; and the Blue Economy

Oyster Aquaculture Site Selection Using Landsat 8-derived Sea Surface Temperature, Turbidity, and Chlorophyll a.

Remote sensing data is useful for selection of aquaculture sites because it can provide water-quality products mapped with no cost to users. However, the spatial resolution of most ocean color satellites is too coarse to provide usable data within many estuaries. The more recently launched Landsat 8 satellite has both the spatial resolution and the necessary signal to noise ratio to provide temperature, as well as ocean color derived products along complex coastlines. The state of Maine (USA) has an abundance of estuarine indentations (~3,500 miles of tidal shoreline within 220 miles of coast), and an expanding aquaculture industry, which makes it a prime case-study for using Landsat 8 data to provide products suitable for aquaculture site selection. We collected the Landsat 8 scenes over coastal Maine, flagged clouds, atmospherically corrected the top-of-the-atmosphere radiances, and derived time varying fields (repeat time of Landsat 8 is 16 days) of temperature (100 m resolution), turbidity (30 m resolution), and chlorophyll-a (30 m resolution). We validated the remote-sensing-based products at several in situ locations along the Maine coast where monitoring buoys and programs are in place. Initial analysis of the validated fields revealed promising areas for oyster aquaculture. The approach used and the data collected to date show potential for other applications in marine coastal environments, including water quality monitoring and ecosystem management

Data Requirements for Oceanic Processes in the Open Ocean, Coastal Zone, and Cryosphere

The type of information system that is needed to meet the requirements of ocean, coastal, and polar region users was examined. The requisite qualities of the system are: (1) availability, (2) accessibility, (3) responsiveness, (4) utility, (5) continuity, and (6) NASA participation. The system would not displace existing capabilities, but would have to integrate and expand the capabilities of existing systems and resolve the deficiencies that currently exist in producer-to-user information delivery options

Earth resources: A continuing bibliography with indexes (issue 51)

This bibliography lists 382 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between July 1 and September 30, 1986. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing and geophysical instrumentation in spacecraft and aircraft to survey and inventory natural resources and urban areas. Subject matter is grouped according to agriculture and forestry, environmental changes and cultural resources, geodesy and cartography, geology and mineral resources, hydrology and water management, data processing and distribution systems, instrumentation and sensors, and economic analysis

Half a century of satellite remote sensing of sea-surface temperature

Sea-surface temperature (SST) was one of the first ocean variables to be studied from earth observation satellites. Pioneering images from infrared scanning radiometers revealed the complexity of the surface temperature fields, but these were derived from radiance measurements at orbital heights and included the effects of the intervening atmosphere. Corrections for the effects of the atmosphere to make quantitative estimates of the SST became possible when radiometers with multiple infrared channels were deployed in 1979. At the same time, imaging microwave radiometers with SST capabilities were also flown. Since then, SST has been derived from infrared and microwave radiometers on polar orbiting satellites and from infrared radiometers on geostationary spacecraft. As the performances of satellite radiometers and SST retrieval algorithms improved, accurate, global, high resolution, frequently sampled SST fields became fundamental to many research and operational activities. Here we provide an overview of the physics of the derivation of SST and the history of the development of satellite instruments over half a century. As demonstrated accuracies increased, they stimulated scientific research into the oceans, the coupled ocean-atmosphere system and the climate. We provide brief overviews of the development of some applications, including the feasibility of generating Climate Data Records. We summarize the important role of the Group for High Resolution SST (GHRSST) in providing a forum for scientists and operational practitioners to discuss problems and results, and to help coordinate activities world-wide, including alignment of data formatting and protocols and research. The challenges of burgeoning data volumes, data distribution and analysis have benefited from simultaneous progress in computing power, high capacity storage, and communications over the Internet, so we summarize the development and current capabilities of data archives. We conclude with an outlook of developments anticipated in the next decade or so

THREE-WAY ERROR ANALYSIS OF SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE (SST) BETWEEN HIMAWARI-8, BUOY, AND MUR SST IN SAVU SEA

Variance errors of Himawari-8, buoy, and Multi-scale Ultra-high Resolution (MUR) SST in Savu Sea have been investigated. This research used level 3 Himawari-8 hourly SST, in situ measurement of buoy, and daily MUR SST in the period of December 2016 to July 2017. The data were separated into day time data and night time. Skin temperature of Himawari-8 and subskin tempertaure of MUR SST were corrected with the value of 15∆Tdept">  before compared with buoy data. Hourly SST of Himawari-8 and buoy data were converted to daily format by averaging process before collocated with MUR SST data. The number of 2,264 matchup data are obtained. Differences average between Himawari-8, buoy and MUR SST were calculated to get the value of variance (Vij).  Using three-way error analysis, variance errors of each observation type can be known. From the analysis results can be seen that the variance error of Himawari-8, buoy and MUR SST are 2.5 oC, 0.28oC and 1.21oC respectively. The accuracy of buoy data was better than the other. With a small variance errors, thus buoy data can be used as a reference data for validation of SST from different observation type

Earth resources: A continuing bibliography with indexes (issue 61)

This bibliography lists 606 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system between January 1 and March 31, 1989. Emphasis is placed on the use of remote sensing and geophysical instrumentation in spacecraft and aircraft to survey and inventory natural resources and urban areas. Subject matter is grouped according to agriculture and forestry, environmental changes and cultural resources, geodesy and cartography, geology and mineral resources, oceanography and marine resources, hydrology and water management, data processing and distribution systems, and instrumentation and sensors, and economic analysis

NASA oceanic processes program

Current flight projects and definition studies, brief descriptions of individual research activities, and bibliography of referred journal articles are provided

The retrieval of surface parameters from satellite borne infrared radiometers for the study of climate

This thesis concerns the development and application of new infrared remote sensing techniques for measurement of climate-related variables. The nature of the climate system is discussed, and the need for global monitoring is noted, together with the suitability of satellite-based remote sensing for the task. Current applications of data from satellite-borne infrared radiometers are discussed, together with the attendant problems, particularly that of correction for the effects of the atmosphere on remotely-sensed thermal infrared temperatures. In addition, the monitoring of proxy indicators of climatic change, such as the areas of closed lakes, by remote sensing is seen as having great potential, despite the limited research to date. The problem of accurate measurement of lake areas by the necessarily coarse resolution instruments which are capable of providing the required repeat coverage is addressed. An initial case study shows that lakes of order a few hundred km2 can be measured to an accuracy of 1% with 1 km resolution data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). A further study of a climatically-sensitive closed lake in Ethiopia demonstrates a qualitative relationship between the measured area cycle and climate records. It is noted that the accurate remote sensing of lake surface temperatures and tropical ocean surface temperatures, both important parameters for climate research, is difficult due to the problem of atmospheric correction. A new correction algorithm is developed which offers an improvement of a factor ~2 over conventional algorithms when applied to AVHRR data. Useful byproducts of the algorithm are accurate atmospheric transmittance and total water vapour. Further developments of the techniques devised are suggested with a view to maximising the exploitation of both new and existing global datasets in order to provide the necessary long time series of accurate measurements required for climate research