The sea-surface temperature (SST) is a critically important parameter in the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere, which is fundamental to improving weather forecasting, including severe…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded a $709,579.45 grant to the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science division to continue assessing the accuracy of sea-surface temperature (SST) measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on the Terra satellite. The research aims to improve weather forecasting and climate modeling by ensuring the integrity of the long-term SST data record. No new fieldwork is required, as the project leverages existing in situ SST measurements. The award does not utilize any set-aside designations and runs through August 17, 2022. As a member of the MODIS and NASA SST science teams, the principal investigator provides subject matter expertise to sustain the traceability and continuity of the SST data product.

The sea-surface temperature (SST) is a critically important parameter in the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere, which is fundamental to improving weather forecasting, including severe storms and other extreme events, and understanding and predicting climate evolution. Modis has five infrared bands where the spectrum of cloud-free atmospheric transmittance is relatively high, but is variable. The two modis bands in the 10-12 m wavelength interval can be used during day and night, whereas the three in the 3.7-4.1 m interval can be used confidently only at night. Reflected solar radiation measurements are used in cloud screening during the day. Our intention is to continue the assessment of the accuracies of modis ssts by comparisons with in situ SST and other measurements in the mudb. Continued assessment is critical to ensure the integrity of the SST time series and to evaluate the impact on SST of any instrument changes or quality level assignment procedures. No new fieldwork is included in the budget; the iquam data are available at no cost. For modis ssts to be included in the long, multi-sensor record of climate, the SI traceability of skin temperature retrievals must be sustained: this is provided at no cost by the PI s radiometers installed on ships. Recent work has succeeded in ensuring that the systems can run at sea autonomously, allowing monitoring of system health and data transfer via internet satellite links, thus avoiding the need for a scientist to accompany the instruments at sea and so significantly reducing costs. The PI is a member of the modis science team, and of the NASA SST science team. The same information is provided for the senior review of modis on terra.