Evaluation of the FY and HY data for Sea Surface Temperature observations

Abstract

Sea Surface Temperature (SST) products have been available from a number of operational and experimental satellites for more than thirty years. These SST products have been evaluated in the global as well as regional areas. In China, the meteorological satellites, Fengyun (FY) series and oceanic satellites, Haiyang (HY) series, have been designed with infrared or microwave channels for SST observations. The FY-2 series are geostationary-orbiting satellites. The Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR-2) onboard FY-2C, 2D, 2E has infrared split window channels for the observation of SST. The brightness temperature data of the FY-2D are analyzed and compared with simultaneous brightness temperature data from the Imager onboard the Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT-1R). The results show poor calibration of FY-2D VISSR-2 infrared channels, which are not capable of retrieving valid SST products. The Chinese Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (COCTS) onboard HY-1A, 1B also has infrared split window channels. The SST products are operational delivered. The intercomparisons of COCTS SST products with AVHRR and MODIS SST products are carried out. The results show negative bias exists for COCTS SST products. The SST products derived from the Visible and Infrared Radiometer (VIRR) onboard FY-3A are under investigation.