Seasurface temperatures from VIIRS

1
  Sea-surface temperatures from VIIRS  

• Peter J Minnett
• Robert H Evans
• Nov 4-6, 2003 

2
EDR/CDR List

•      Primary Sea-surface temperature
• Success requires very good pre-launch
  characterization, excellent on-board calibration,
  robust atmospheric correction algorithms, and
  comprehensive validation exercise.
•      Secondary
• Expertise in ocean color retrievals.
• Interest in ice-surface temperature, albedo,
  cloud radiative forcing.
• Can also provide at-sea measurements of cloud
  amounts, aerosols, atmospheric temperature
  profiles.

3
Roles of PI and Co-I's

•    Peter Minnett project oversight experience
  with atmospheric correction algorithms for SST,
  rte simulations, validation, skin-bulk
  relationships, MODIS instrumental effects.
•    Robert Evans (Co-PI) experience with
  atmospheric correction algorithms for SST and
  ocean color, MODIS instrumental effects,
  validation, large data sets, computing resources
• Edward Kearns experience with atmospheric
  correction algorithms for SST and ocean color,
  MODIS instrumental effects, validation.
• Ajoy Kumar AVHRR, GOES, MODIS SST error
  characteristics.
• Kay Kilpatirck AVHRR Pathfinder SST, MODIS
  validation data sets
• Warner Baringer MODIS data sets.
• Sue Walsh MODIS Oceans processing algorithms
• Vicki Halliwell AVHRR Pathfinder SST.

4
Approach

•    Use of closest MODIS Bands as proxies to
  explore VIIRS algorithm behavior in global
  imagery
•    Make comparison with MODIS, AVHRR, AMSR-E,
  AATSR SST retrievals
•    Use of MODIS Matchup Data Base (radiometric
  and bulk) to determine VIIRS SST error
  characteristics
•    Use of radiative transfer modeling to explore
  functional dependences of VIIRS SST error
  characteristics
•    Use of extensive at-sea M-AERI and ancillary
  data sets to study skin-bulk relationships.
•    Anticipatory post-launch SST validation
  studies, as for MODIS

5
Resources Offered/Requested

• Offered
•    Expertise with MODIS Ocean retrievals and
  validation
•    Match-up data base of MODIS and radiometric
  and subsurface ocean measurements
•    Extensive data bases of field data of surface
  and near-surface measurements
•    Radiative transfer models for VIIRS
  simulations
•    Extensive computer resources
•    State-of-the-art equipment (including M-AERI)
  on Explorer of the Seas and other research
  vessels.
• Requested
• Additional support for at-sea post-launch
  validation activities

6
Information Resources Required

•    Information that will allow us to understand
  the operation of the VIIRS, e.g
• Instrument specifications and deviations
• Instrument design
• Layout of focal planes
• Black body characteristics
• Pre-launch characterization data, e.g. spectral
  response functions (including out-of-band),
  NE?Ts, evidence (if any) of spatial and spectral
  cross-talk, evidence (if any) of stray light
  issues
• Thermal vacuum test data
• On-board calibration description and
  procedures.
• Scan mirror rvs issues....
•    Algorithm revisions
•    Operational constraints, e.g. day-night
  algorithm switching protocol Deep Space or Moon
  View Maneuvers
•    Post-launch data over global oceans,
  including quality flags, at L1a, L1b, L2
  geolocation data, cloud masks.

7
SST Validation

•    Very accurate, self calibrating
  spectro-radiometers
• (eg, MAERI, ISAR, CIRIMS, SISTer)
•    Supplemented by large numbers of buoy data

 Global, seasonal coverage, filling parameter
space
  NIST Traceable
8
Contribution to Deliverables

•      Analyses of error characteristics of the
  anticipated VIIRS SST fields.
•      Recommendations for algorithm revisions for
  CDR generation.
•     Contributions to secondary EDR/CDR analyses
•     Initial post-launch validation of VIIRS
  SSTs