Sea surface temperature measured

by the MODerate resolution Imaging

Spectroradiometer (MODIS).
O. B. Brown, R. H. Evans, P. J. Minnett,
&
E. J. Kearns, Kay Kilpatrick
Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami

IWG Meeting
Nov 18, 2002
 Overview
• MODIS SST product validation status
• Field validation (mid- and far-wave) for both
AQUA and TERRA (FM-1 & PFM)
• Combined global 0.25O spatial resolution [MODIS
TERRA, AQUA] and [MODIS TERRA, AQUA,
AMSR, TMI] SST products
• Improved hurricane prediction using a
prototype MODIS+AMSR SST product
• Ongoing activities
 Sea Surface Temperature Validation Status
• MODIS SST products validated:
- TERRA (beta->valid) mid-wave 4µm SST (SST4)
- TERRA (valid->improved valid) thermal 10-11µm SST
- AQUA (beta->valid) mid-wave 4µm SST (SST4)
- AQUA (beta->valid) thermal 10-11µm SST
These validated products will be delivered to the DAAC when
product production based on the latest code delivery commences
• Active support of other EOS instruments
– Special 0.25O spatial resolution AQUA SST delivered to AMSR and AIRS teams
to assist in product assessment and validation
• Active support for international SST projects
– M-AERI in situ time series provided to ENVISAT AATSR team for product
validation
– Working with the GODAE Global High Resolution SST (GHRSST) team to
integrate MODIS SST products into the international effort to define and deliver
a validated global, near real-time high resolution SST product.
 In Situ Validation Data
•TERRA and AQUA SST and SST4 products
show similar behavior with respect to in situ
retrievals to date
Right - Explorer cruise tracks that provide
bias reference using M-AERI observations
Lower Left - Drifting buoys, used to compute SST equation
retrieval coefficients
Lower Right - Global M-AERI cruise tracks, final validation
suite

Drifting Buoys
 MODIS SST Buoy and M-AERI retrieval Statistics
Version 4.5 (new delivery)
median = satellite - reference [MAERI or BUOY]
BUOY M-AERI
• SST - new coefficients • SST - new coefficients
Median StdDev Median StdDev Number
Number of Points
of Points
–Terra all 0.10 0.40 439
– Terra all -0.07 0.48 11027
–Terra night 0.04 0.35 235
– Terra night 0.01 0.42 4387
–Terra day 0.16 0.42 204
– Terra day -0.14 0.51 6643
–Aqua all 0.06 0.40 105
– Aqua all -0.05 0.48
–Aqua night 0.02 0.37 59
3821
– Aqua night -0.10 0.43
1628 –Aqua day 0.45 0.11 46
– Aqua day 0.51 • SST4 new coeffs, new formulation
-0.01
2203 –Terra night 0.02 0.34 278
• SST4 new coeffs, new formulation –Aqua night -0.01 0.31 52
– Terra night -0.05 0.41 4096
– Aqua night -0.10 0.39 1319
 TERRA MODIS SST Validation
Both SST and SST4 products show no trends with time (Jan 01-Sept 02),
temperature, satellite zenith angle (not shown) or latitude vs drifting buoys.
Dotted lines are ± 0.2K and enclose 50% of the retrievals

Thermal, 10-11 m SST Mid-wave, 4 m SST

SST residual vs time by lat band SST4 residual vs time by lat band
 AQUA MODIS SST Validation
Both SST and SST4 products show no trends with time (Jul 02-Sept 02),
temperature, satellite zenith angle (not shown) or latitude vs drifting buoys.
Dotted lines are ± 0.2K and enclose 50% of the retrievals

Thermal, 10-11 m SST Mid-wave, 4 m SST

SST residual vs time by lat band SST4 residual vs time by lat band
AQUA, TERRA MODIS comparison with M-AERI and buoys
Buoy residual distribution, warmer colors->more buoy retrievals
Black dots are M-AERI retrievals, colors are N buoys per 4 day-by-0.1K bin

TERRA SST AQUA SST

TERRA SST4 AQUA SST4

TERRA/AQUA Global DAY SST - Sept 29, 2002
TERRA-day
Aqua-day

AQUA-day
AQUA, TERRA combined orbits nearly
eliminate swath gaps
Composite AQUA, TERRA SST Night
Sept 29, 2002
Nearly Complete Single Day Global Coverage
Composite Night (MODIS-T, MODIS-A)
Day, Night - (AMSR, TMI) Prototype
Sept 29, 2002, 0.25O spatial resolution

Kyle
 Improved Hurricane Prediction
• Use of combined IR (MODIS), microwave (AMSR, TMI) products provide daily 0.25O
spatial resolution SST coverage over most of the world’s oceans, especially in the
tropics.

• Present hurricane prediction modeling utilizes Reynold’s/NCEP weekly, 1 O spatial

resolution fields to initialize models.

• Using daily SST fields, in conjunction with TOPEX altimetry and ocean circulation
models, to compute upper ocean heat content provides an improved estimate of
energy available to drive hurricane intensification.

• When Hurricane Lili traversed the Gulf of Mexico following the passage of Hurricane
Isidore the previous week, use of the weekly OI SST field as an input to the hurricane
forecast models did not capture the wake cooling of Isidore and led to a forecast of a
strong category 4 storm. Passage of Lili over the cold wake of Isidore led to a
weakening to category 2.

• Timely availability of a merged IR, microwave SST product can result in significant
health, safety and economic benefits through improved storm forecasts.
Implementation will require proper representation of the diurnal thermocline.
 Hurricane Isidore Cold Wake
Combined IR, Microwave SST provides daily 0.25O resolution SST field
and the ability to better forecast hurricane intensification

Reynolds Objectively Interpolated SST Sept 26, 2002 MODIS AQUA, TERRA,
week prior to Hurricane Isidore passage AMSR, TMI Composite

Isidore

Cold
Wake
 Hurricane Forecast
• MODIS SST group has developed improved SST retrieval
equations and coefficients for AQUA and TERRA MODIS
instruments

• We have exchanged SST fields with F. Wentz and C. Gentemann,

AMSR Team, and have used the individual fields to develop a
prototype combined IR, Microwave SST field

• The prototype fields were then delivered to N. Shay -UMiami,

working in cooperation with NOAA and the Joint Hurricane
Testbed Group to compute upper ocean heat content fields and then
use these data as inputs to forecast models

• Results will be compared to aircraft, radar and in situ observations

 Ocean Upper Heat Content
Reduction of heat content reduces energy available to
support hurricane intensification

Use of low resolution, prior week interpolated data field does not adequately
capture reduction of heat content, combined IR/MW SST provides more accurate
assessment leading to improved hurricane forecast
Reynolds’ based heat content Combined IR, mw based heat content
100 W 95 90 W 85 W 80 W
W

From
30 N N. Shay
UMiami
25 N

20 N

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

OHC (KJ -2
cm )
 SST (left panels)
and OHC (right
panels) for Pre-
Lili (upper) and
Post-Lili (lower)
Relative to
Storm Intensity.
(SSTs processed
by UM/RSMAS
Remote Sensing
Laboratory).
Colors on storm
track indicate
storm intensity
Cat 4, Cat 2
Note: Hurricane Isidore cold wake signature becomes less distinct as the diurnal
thermocline is re-established following passage of Isidore. Hurricane Lili winds mix
the diurnal thermocline exposing Isidore cold wake. Lili intensifies while over high
From N. Shay
heat content waters (yellow-green) and de-intensifies when track moves over lower UMiami/RSMAS
heat content region (blue).
 Ongoing Activities
• AQUA and TERRA SST day and night and SST4
night products have been declared validated

• New SST/SST4 level 2 product generation code has

been delivered to the MODIS software integration
team

• Valid AQUA (SST/SST4) and TERRA (improved

valid SST, valid SST4) products will be available at
the G-DAAC following implementation of the new
SST PGE in MODAPS
 Ongoing Activities
• Improve data quality tests to better identify suspect or invalid SST retrievals
• Add to M-AERI matchup data base to include all M-AERI cruises, better
quantify retrieval statistics
• Extend buoy matchup to include all of the TERRA mission
• Continue work with microwave products to first identify and subsequently
correct for the presence of aerosols
• Work with EOS and international teams to improve SST validation,
exchange M-AERI matchup observations and TERRA/AQUA SST and
SST4 global fields
• Work with GODAE Global High Resolution SST working group to better
define estimation of diurnal thermocline leading to a proper merger of
AQUA and TERRA day and night SST fields