Validation of satellite-derived sea-surface temperatures in Australian tropical, temperate and polar waters

The Australian sea surface temperature (SST) cal/val program is spatially extensive and well coordinated. Skin and bulk sea-surface temperature measurements are being undertaken over a wide range of latitudes from tropical waters (north-east Australian coast) through temperate latitudes (southwestern coast) into the Antarctic region. These are being used for in situ validation of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) temperature data, Incorporating a variety of atmospheric conditions and a SST range of about -2° to 30°C. A particular feature is the attempt to monitor both skin and bulk SSTs from a variety of platforms. Validation work in Townsville (Australian Institute of Marine Science-AIMS) and Perth (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation-CSIRO, and Curtin University of Technology) is based on regular (daily) measurements from operational commercial ferries, fixed subsurface temperature recorders and monthly cross-shelf surveys. Two groups based in Hobart (CSIRO and University of Tasmania) use research vessels covering all Australian waters and southward into the Southern Ocean. This paper describes the equipment used, discusses some of the problems involved in using commercially-operated vessels and presents some sample results