Why the GHRSST L3C from AVHRR named subskin?

[ytchang]

Hi,

As I know the definition of SST_subskin is from microwave satellite data. Since GHRSST L3C is from AVHRR only which is IR data, why can we call it SST_subskin?

Thanks in advance!

[wenhaoli]

Hi,

Thank you for your interesting question.

Most of GHRSST L3C subskin SSTs from AVHRR are produced by OSI SAF. For example, the https://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/dataset/AVH ... F-L3C-v1.0 data. To understand why they are named as the subskin SST, please read the SST ATBD: http://www.osi-saf.org/lml/doc/osisaf_c ... eo_sst.pdf. On page 19, it says "Since the coefficient of the SST algorithm are established using simulations from RTTOV radiative transfer model and de-biased against drifting buoys measurements (at a depth of 20 to 30 cm), the retrieved SST is considered to be the sub-skin SST."

Please let us know if you have more questions.

Best Regards,

Wenhao Li

[ytchang]

Thanks for the reply. It helps!