A two-satellite method for measurement of sea surface temperature

Abstract

A major factor limiting the accuracy of satellite infrared measurements of sea surface temperature is the inability to accurately account for the absorption and emission of the intervening atmosphere. A new method of atmospheric correction is proposed which utilizes simultaneous coverage by two satellites. The two-satellite method incorporates differences in the temperatures observed by the two satellites into a simple atmospheric model to derive a point-by-point correction for atmospheric effects. Compensation for the horizontal variability of the atmosphere is thereby achieved and the assumption of horizontal atmospheric uniformity, implicit in many previous correction techniques, is avoided. Data from the Gulf of Mexico is used to evaluate the accuracy of the method. This test case shows a mean error of − 0-40°C between surface truth and surface temperatures derived by the two-satellite technique. The standard deviation around the mean error is 10-60°C.