13 Sea Surface Temperature Measurements from Thermal Infrared Satellite
217
than current multi-channel approaches. Satellite SST data providers using infrared
systems should review the performance of their atmospheric correction algorithms
in polar atmospheres and take steps to develop more appropriate algorithms for these
regions.
13.4 Principles and Lessons Learned from the GHRSST
International Framework
The GHRSST project (Donlon et al., 2007 2 ) was a significant contribution to
progress in SST over the last decade as it nurtured a community of scientists from
the scientific and operational agencies and institutions. GHRSST established a set
of user requirements for all GHRSST activities from a bottom up collaborative
and open discussion in five areas: (1) scientific development and applications, (2)
operational agency requirements, (3) SST product specifications, (4) programmatic
organization of an international SST service and (5) developing and sharing scientific techniques and insight to improve data products and exploit the observing
system.
These requirements formed an essential part of the GHRSST evolution and were
critical to establishing a framework and a work plan. A consensus GHRSST Data
Processing specification (GDS) was developed that described how satellite data
providers should process satellite data streams; a common format and content of
data products; the basic approaches to providing uncertainty estimates and auxiliary data sets that should be included in products to help users interpret the SST
measurements. GHRSST also conducted scientific research and developed a data
management framework, including long term stewardship of all products.
GHRSST realised the benefits of creating modular data processing architectures
in which many partners around the world can contribute to improve global monitoring. The GHRSST service has also encouraged the development of new SST
monitoring and forecasting initiatives by operational agencies that use the new data
products. In particular the end-to-end service reveals how a system which enables
the complementary use of data from different sources reinforces the importance of
each, as it leads to new records of SST with enhanced accuracy and improved spatial
and temporal resolution. A full discussion of GHRSST success over the last 10 years
is reported in Donlon, 2008; Donlon et al., 2009. The key developments include:
• International agreement on the definition of different SST parameters in the upper
layer of the ocean that distinguish between measurements made by infrared
radiometers, passive microwave radiometers, in-situ sub-surface observations
and SST merged analysis outputs. These definitions have been registered in the
Climate Forecast (CF) standard name table (Donlon, 2008).
• Diverse satellite SST data product formats and product content have been
homogenised according to international consensus and user requirements to
2 See http://www.ghrsst.org
217
than current multi-channel approaches. Satellite SST data providers using infrared
systems should review the performance of their atmospheric correction algorithms
in polar atmospheres and take steps to develop more appropriate algorithms for these
regions.
13.4 Principles and Lessons Learned from the GHRSST
International Framework
The GHRSST project (Donlon et al., 2007 2 ) was a significant contribution to
progress in SST over the last decade as it nurtured a community of scientists from
the scientific and operational agencies and institutions. GHRSST established a set
of user requirements for all GHRSST activities from a bottom up collaborative
and open discussion in five areas: (1) scientific development and applications, (2)
operational agency requirements, (3) SST product specifications, (4) programmatic
organization of an international SST service and (5) developing and sharing scientific techniques and insight to improve data products and exploit the observing
system.
These requirements formed an essential part of the GHRSST evolution and were
critical to establishing a framework and a work plan. A consensus GHRSST Data
Processing specification (GDS) was developed that described how satellite data
providers should process satellite data streams; a common format and content of
data products; the basic approaches to providing uncertainty estimates and auxiliary data sets that should be included in products to help users interpret the SST
measurements. GHRSST also conducted scientific research and developed a data
management framework, including long term stewardship of all products.
GHRSST realised the benefits of creating modular data processing architectures
in which many partners around the world can contribute to improve global monitoring. The GHRSST service has also encouraged the development of new SST
monitoring and forecasting initiatives by operational agencies that use the new data
products. In particular the end-to-end service reveals how a system which enables
the complementary use of data from different sources reinforces the importance of
each, as it leads to new records of SST with enhanced accuracy and improved spatial
and temporal resolution. A full discussion of GHRSST success over the last 10 years
is reported in Donlon, 2008; Donlon et al., 2009. The key developments include:
• International agreement on the definition of different SST parameters in the upper
layer of the ocean that distinguish between measurements made by infrared
radiometers, passive microwave radiometers, in-situ sub-surface observations
and SST merged analysis outputs. These definitions have been registered in the
Climate Forecast (CF) standard name table (Donlon, 2008).
• Diverse satellite SST data product formats and product content have been
homogenised according to international consensus and user requirements to
2 See http://www.ghrsst.org