SST from MODIS AQUA and TERRA Kay Kilpatrick, Ed Kearns, Bob Evans, and Peter Minnett Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami MODIS Science Team Meeting Baltimore, MD. July 2004

Sea Surface temperature Cal/Val MODIS AQUA and TERRA MODAPS/DAAC archived Products

TERRA global cal/val stats

AQUA global cal/cal stats

Aggregate stats  Aggregate globally distributed matchups for each sensor,quantify and validate the existing code and production of Seasurface temperature at MODAPS  The instruments continue to perform very well relative to in-situ measurements. Time series show no obvious trends and residuals are stable in time and latitude. (see poster)  Statistics are comparable to those of the AVHRR Pathfinder SST. Comparisons of collocated retrievals with AMSR and ATSR, TMI are also very good.  Analysis with respect to mirror side and sat zenith angle suggest further improvements are possible to improve accuracy and reduce uncertainty.

TERRA 11-12um SST cal/val Mirror side and Sat zenith angle

TERRA SST 4.5 coefficients  Terra residuals show a “classic V” shape as a function of Zenith angle. Suggesting a small error in the in the atmospheric/4th term of the algorithm. Apex of the “V” is a nadir at the expected o C skin-bulk offset.  Sensor measures skin temperature and is expected to generally be colder than the buoys.  Two mirror sides appear to behave in a similar manner.

AQUA MODIS Buoy & M-AERI matchups

AQUA MODIS Buoy & M-AERI matchups – highest quality

AQUA 11-12um SST cal/val mirror side and Sat zenith angle

AQUA SST 4.5 coefficients  AQUA’s two mirror sides do not behave the same.  Classic “V” pattern of residuals with satellite zenith angle is not present.  Results suggest that small RVS remains as there is a suggestion of a slope across the scan. (AQUA MCST RVS based on pre-launch data, TERRA based on closed Door on orbit data)  Nadir values are near Zero rather than the expected

AQUA coefficients 4.5  Examination of AQUA low water vapor regime d31-32 <0.7 suggest a more flat line with a hint of a “V” with respect to sat zenith angle with on offset at At Nadir for both mirror sides.  The fact that trends are only present in high water vapor regimes suggest that the RVS problem maybe restricted to band 32 only, as it is only in these conditions that band 32 comes into play thru the band difference term.  In low WV band 31 dominated.  More matchups in high latitude cold dry atmospheres are needed to confirm results.

Plans for SST collection 5  Revised coeffficeints sst and sst4  Revised l1b emmissive LUT for oceans thermal and mid and ir bands?  Better RVS corrections  L1b schedule 9/10/04 TERRA, AQUA 12/3/04  Schedule TERRA 2/1/05, AQUA 5/1/05  Decision trees better cloud flagging  use of sst4 as first guess at night) more for the ocean talk.