Project Title:

A Multi-Band Sea Surface Temperature Infrared Radiometer

08.18-1512
900768
A Multi-Band Sea Surface Temperature Infrared Radiometer

Abstract:

Recent research has shown the importance of calibrating/verifying satellite sea surface
temperature (SST) radiometers using shipboard "skin" radiometric thermometers rather
than buoy in situ thermometers. Since the satellite radiometers measure skin SST
brightness temperature, verification sensors should measure the identical skin temperature
to achieve optimum satellite radiometer accuracy. Bulk and skin SST's can differ
by as much as 2oC, with the skin typically 0.6oC cooler than the bulk temperature.
We propose a 5-band ship-mounted, down-looking infrared radiometric calibrator to
measure sea surface brightness-temperature to a precision of 0.02oC. The proposed
device is an evolutionary extension of an existing OPHIR 4.25-3.7um airborne radiometer.
The sea surface temperature radiometer proposed will be used for sea truth calibration/verification
of the existing AVHRR and planned MODIS satellite sea-viewing radiometers. The proposed
radiometric calibrator is an improvement over current sensors in that it have very
high 0.02oC Theoretical precision, achieves NBS intercomparison traceability in the
field through a seawater bucket calibration standard and two internal blackbodies,
and is designed to use five channels which match exactly the channel parameters of
the planned Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer-Nadir (MODIS-N) SST radiometer
soon to fly on the EOS satellite.
The primary application is in ground truth calibration of NASA satellite radiometers
for oceanographic and climatic research. The proposed shipboard radiometer could
also be used is fisheries research, to monitor global temperature rises, and to help
predict hurricane paths by airborne monitoring of sea temperature heat patterns.
radiometer, infrared, sea surface temperature, satellite, remote-sensing