Sea surface temperature measurements from thermal infrared satellite instruments: Status and outlook

Abstract

Over the last 10 years there has been significant development in the definition, availability, future planning and service provision of satellite sea surface temperature measurements based on TIR satellite data. A short overview of key past, present and future TIR sensors is provided together with an overview of the primary on-going retrieval challenges and issues. The future outlook for TIR satellite systems is good, with assured continuity of the AATSR class of instruments, as part of the EU Sentinel, and continuity of the AVHRR/MODIS class instruments as part of the USA NPOESS program. Geostationary TIR imager capability is also assured until 2020. The international framework pioneered by the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature is then discussed in the context of developing an international community of SST producers and users. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.