Estimation of sea surface temperature from SEVIRI data: algorithm testing and comparison with AVHRR products

Abstract

Three surface temperature (ST) algorithms for Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) data are developed and tested. A general split window algorithm for ST estimation, a sea surface temperature (SST) algorithm and a nonlinear algorithm (NLSST) developed for SEVIRI data. The test was carried out by comparing SEVIRI data with two types of data: (a) in situ and (b) obtained with the NLSST algorithm applied to Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The field campaign was carried out over sea using a thermal radiometer. The algorithms were applied to SEVIRI images in coincidence with the field campaign and the results show an rms error lower than 0.7 K. The comparison with AVHRR data was carried out in six test regions and provided an rms error lower than 1.3 K. The best results were obtained for the SST algorithm proposed.