Sea Surface Temperature
A Daily Microwave Optimally Interpolated SST (MW OI SST) is now available:
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www.remss.com/sst |
The MW OI SSTs:
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are derived from microwave radiometer SSTs (AMSR-E, TMI), which can see through clouds. |
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provide good temporal resolution, especially important in areas with persistent cloud cover. |
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represent night-time minimum, or pre-dawn SST values; diurnal warming has been estimated and removed. |
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are gridded at quarter degree (~25 kilometer) resolution. |
What is Sea Surface Temperature?
See Characterizing Sea Surface Temperature on the GHRSST-PP site for a good discussion of thermal variability in the upper ocean. The MW OI SSTs can be said to represent pre-dawn temperatures at a depth of ~1 meter, or temperatures just below the diurnal layer.