The OI sea surface temperature (SST) analysis is produced weekly (Sunday to Saturday) on a one-degree grid. The analysis uses in situ and satellite SST's plus SST's simulated by sea-ice cover. Before the analysis is computed, the satellite data is adjusted for biases using the method of Reynolds (1988) and Reynolds and Marsico (1993). A description of the OI analysis can be found in Reynolds and Smith (1994). The bias correction improves the large scale accuracy of the OI. Examples of the effect of recent corrections is given by Reynolds (1993).
For the more recent period, 1990-present, the in situ data were obtained from radio messages carried on the Global Telecommunication System. The satellite observations were obtained from operational data produced by the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS).
During the period 1981-1989, the in situ data were obtained from the Comprehensive Ocean Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) for the 1980s. These data (see Slutz, et al., 1985, and Woodruff, et al., 1993) consist of logbook and radio reports. The satellite data were obtained from analyses of NESDIS data produced at the University of Miami's Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.
The OI analysis is done over all ocean areas. There is no analysis over land. The land values are filled by a Cressman interpolation to produce a complete grid for possible interpolation.
Reynolds, R. W., 1988: A real-time global sea surface temperature analysis. J. Climate, 1, 75-86.
Reynolds, R. W., 1993: Impact of Mount Pinatubo aerosols on satellite-derived Sea Surface Temperatures. J. Climate, 6, 768-774.
Reynolds, R. W. and D. C. Marsico, 1993: An improved real-time global sea surface temperature analysis. J. Climate, 6, 114-119.
Reynolds, R. W. and T. M. Smith, 1994: Improved global sea surface temperature analyses. J. Climate, 7, 929-948.
Slutz, R. J., S. J. Lubker, J. D. Hiscox, S. D. Woodruff, R. L. Jenne, D. H. Joseph, P. M. Steuer, J. D. Elms, 1985: Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set: Release 1. NOAA Environmental Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO, 268 pp.
Woodruff, S.D., S. J. Lubker, K. Wolter, S.J. Worley, and J.D. Elms, 1993: Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) Release 1a: 1980-1992. Earth System Monitor, Vol. 4, No. 1, September 1993, NOAA.
Richard W. Reynolds (INTERNET: wd01rr@sgi11.wwb.noaa.gov)
Coupled Model Project W/NMCx3
National Meteorological Center
World Weather Building, Room 807
5200 Auth Road
Camp Springs, MD 20746 USA
PHONE: (301) 763-8396