1. General Objective: Conduct R&D activities to improve the quality of SST products used by MERSEA modeling and assimilation centers and produce global, Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea analyzed SST fields needed for MERSEA regional and global models CNR contribution to MERSEA SST activities (Task 2.2)

2. CNR work in particular concerns : Inter-comparison and validation of MEDSPIRATION L4 and MFSTEP SST products. Improvement of techniques to merge infrared sensors (AVHRR, AATSR, MODIS/TERRA and MODIS/ACQUA, MSG) in the Mediterranean Sea. Continuation of the production of MFSTEP analyses (after the end of MFSTEP). EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:  Month 20:Report on the inter-comparison of MEDSPIRATION and MFSTEP SST analyses over the Mediterranean Sea.  Month 30:Report on the merging of AVHRR, AATSR and MODIS (from TERRA and AQUA) SST products in the Mediterranean Sea

3. REMARKS: Medspiration L4 is at 2 km res., MFS is at 1/16° Different input -MFS: only AVHRR (CNR+CMS) -Medspiration: L2P (AATSR,AVHRR(CMS+Navoceano), SEVIRI…) Different data editing and selection -account for bias between sensors -selection of valid input (confidence values, temporal window…) Different OI algorithm configurations -spatial influential radius (‘bubble’) -strategy for the selection of influential observations within the bubble

4. Could Medspiration L4 sub-sampled over MFS grid be used in the assimilation? Could the present MFS analysis be improved by including Medspiration L2P data? or: Can it be run only with Medspiration L2P? Can the Medspiration L4 software be run directly to interpolate on the model grid, with stable results, possibly improving MFS?

5. MFS L4 using GHRSST products f l o w c h a r t Data mergingISAC Optimal Interpolation Data delivery on the GOS-ISAC web-site Data quality controll Night-time SST using MF algorithm Cloud detection SST daily composite binning on model grid (1/16x1/16) MF AVHRR acquisition Atlantic buffer zone + west Med Night-time SST using Pathfinder algorithm Cloud detection SST daily composite binning on model grid (1/16x1/16) ISAC AVHRR acquisition Entire Mediterranean L2P Medspiration Products

6. MFS L4 – Medspiration L4 intercomparison Period examined: January-September 2005 Methods: Analysis of the differences between the MFS and Medspiration L4 Products -qualitative -quantitative (statistical) Comparison of the two products against in situ XBT data acquired within MFSTEP

11. MFSTEP – Medspiration L4 intercomparison spatial distribution of XBT measurements

12. Differences between Optimally interpolated SST and XBT SST4m collected by MFS-VOS program during 2005 Medspiration SST-XBT SST MFS SST-XBT SST Medspiration SST - XBT SST MFS+seviriL2P SST - XBT SST

13. mean bias (L4-XBT) °C rms difference (L4-XBT) °C Medspiration-0.1120.50 MFS-0.0130.51 MFS+SEVIRI+(AATSR)-0.0100.52 Scatter plot between OI-SST and XBT SST4m

14. ACHIEVED RESULTS, NEXT STEPS: Could Medspiration L4 sub-sampled over MFS grid be used in the assimilation? not with present configuration, other config. to be investigated Could the present MFS analysis be improved by including Medspiration L2P data? Yes, already done, to be implemented operationally Can it be run only with Medspiration L2P? Work in progress… Can the Medspiration L4 software be run to interpolate directly on the model grid, with stable results, possibly improving MFS ? Software made available last week, all work to be done…