Satellite-based time-series of sea-surface temperature since 1980 for climate applications

Embury, O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1661-7828, Merchant, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4687-9850, Good, S. A., Rayner, N. A., Høyer, J. L., Atkinson, C., Block, T., Alerskans, E., Pearson, K. J., Worsfold, M., McCarroll, N. and Donlon, C. (2024) Satellite-based time-series of sea-surface temperature since 1980 for climate applications. Scientific Data, 11 (1). 326. ISSN 2052-4463 doi: 10.1038/s41597-024-03147-w

Abstract/Summary

A 42-year climate data record of global sea surface temperature (SST) covering 1980 to 2021 has been produced from satellite observations, with a high degree of independence from in situ measurements. Observations from twenty infrared and two microwave radiometers are used, and are adjusted for their differing times of day of measurement to avoid aliasing and ensure observational stability. A total of 1.5 × 1013 locations are processed, yielding 1.4 × 1012 SST observations deemed to be suitable for climate applications. The corresponding observation density varies from less than 1 km−2 yr−1 in 1980 to over 100 km−2 yr−1 after 2007. Data are provided at their native resolution, averaged on a global 0.05° latitude-longitude grid (single-sensor with gaps), and as a daily, merged, gap-free, SST analysis at 0.05°. The data include the satellite-based SSTs, the corresponding time-and-depth standardised estimates, their standard uncertainty and quality flags. Accuracy, spatial coverage and length of record are all improved relative to a previous version, and the timeseries is routinely extended in time using consistent methods.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/115932
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	Springer Nature
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