GCOS SST WG plans Nick Rayner OOPC-12, 2 nd May 2007

Executive Committee Tom Smith, NOAA (Co-chair) Tom Smith, NOAA (Co-chair) Nick Rayner, Met Office (Co-chair) Nick Rayner, Met Office (Co-chair) Ken Casey, NOAA Ken Casey, NOAA Alexey Kaplan, LDEO Alexey Kaplan, LDEO Liz Kent, NOCS Liz Kent, NOCS Dick Reynolds, NOAA Dick Reynolds, NOAA Ed Harrison, PMEL Ed Harrison, PMEL Craig Donlon, Met Office Craig Donlon, Met Office

Outline Terms of Reference To record and evaluate the differences among historical and near real time SST and SST/SI analyses To record and evaluate the differences among historical and near real time SST and SST/SI analyses To identify the sources of differences in the analyses To identify the sources of differences in the analyses On the basis of comparison of those differences with the expected climate signals in the SST patterns, to recommend actions needed to ensure the quality and consistency of the SST and SST/SI analyses On the basis of comparison of those differences with the expected climate signals in the SST patterns, to recommend actions needed to ensure the quality and consistency of the SST and SST/SI analyses To establish criteria to be satisfied by SST and SST/SI analyses to ensure the quality and consistency required by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) To establish criteria to be satisfied by SST and SST/SI analyses to ensure the quality and consistency required by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Liaise with all appropriate bodies Liaise with all appropriate bodies To report annually to AOPC and OOPC on progress and recommendations To report annually to AOPC and OOPC on progress and recommendations

Outline plan Agreed set of diagnostics Agreed set of diagnostics Initial set of analyses and input data Initial set of analyses and input data Host website Host website Data formats and inter-comparison tools Data formats and inter-comparison tools Communication plan Communication plan Turning the differences and similarities we discover into useful information for users Turning the differences and similarities we discover into useful information for users

Agreed set of diagnostics Initial phase: Initial phase: –Time series of global and hemispheric anomalies –Time-latitude sections of anomalies –Fields of standard deviation, linear trend and lag1 correlation Follow on phase: Follow on phase: –Maps of RMS differences between fields –Time averaged difference maps –Time series for selected regions and a small selection of GHRSST diagnostic data set sites –Spatial autocorrelations.

Initial set of analyses Kaplan et al Kaplan et al HadISST1 HadISST1 NOCS SST analysis NOCS SST analysis ERSST ERSST AVHRR Pathfinder AVHRR Pathfinder OIv2 OIv2 Daily OI SST Daily OI SST OSTIA OSTIA Plus input data, including ICOADS and HadSST2

Host website GHRSST-PP Reanalysis Long Term Stewardship and Reanalysis Facility: GHRSST-PP Reanalysis Long Term Stewardship and Reanalysis Facility:

Data formats and inter-comparison tools NetCDF-3 allows use of pre-existing data comparison tools, such as Ferret NetCDF-3 allows use of pre-existing data comparison tools, such as Ferret Compatible with GHRSST-PP fields Compatible with GHRSST-PP fields Matlab and ASCII formats will also be maintained Matlab and ASCII formats will also be maintained

Communication plan Draft and agree a document based on this presentation and feedback [June 2007] Draft and agree a document based on this presentation and feedback [June 2007] Create an contact list of other international SST analysis colleagues Create an contact list of other international SST analysis colleagues Send document with invitation to participate [end of August 2007] Send document with invitation to participate [end of August 2007] Once we have initial results, widen the net and publicise to other users at appropriate meeting Once we have initial results, widen the net and publicise to other users at appropriate meeting Explore possibility of a short paper or report. Explore possibility of a short paper or report.

Creating useful information for users Spread of different analyses gives initial indication of structural uncertainty Spread of different analyses gives initial indication of structural uncertainty Later propose to Later propose to –Explore differences in input data and QC techniques –Apply different analysis techniques to the same data Need to carry out a user requirements exercise to find out what our users are trying to do and so what they need from us. Need to carry out a user requirements exercise to find out what our users are trying to do and so what they need from us.

Liaison with appropriate bodies GHRSST-PP GHRSST-PP WCRP WGNE/WGSF SURFA project on common SST issues WCRP WGNE/WGSF SURFA project on common SST issues

Meeting of the SST/SI WG Currently discussing dates for meeting of the whole WG to discuss progress and points of common interest Currently discussing dates for meeting of the whole WG to discuss progress and points of common interest –Fall AGU?