Estimation of Sea Surface Temperatures Using GOES-8/9Radiance Measurements

Abstract

Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are derived using measurements from the new generation of imaging instruments on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service has been producing hourly GOES SST estimates since December 1998. This paper presents the algorithm for cloud detection and atmospheric moisture correction and shows some initial results. Several advantages of GOES SST are evident in comparison with SST from polar orbiting satellites. Frequent sampling by GOES imagers results in a more complete map of SST as clouds move away. Changes in scene temperature over a short period of time help to detect the presence of clouds. The abundance of GOES observations enables stringent screening for cloud-free observations while maintaining good spatial coverage of clear-sky inferences of SST. Diurnal variations of SST over large areas are observed for the first time and their implications for numerical weather prediction and climate monitoring are discussed.