Multichannel sea surface temperature (MCSST) from the TIROS-N advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHHR) for the FGGE period (Dec. 1978-Nov. 1979)

During the FGGE period (Dec. 1978 - Nov. 1979), NESDIS routinely obtained the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) globally from the AVHRR instrument on-board the TIROS-N satellite using the Global Sea Surface Temperature Computation (GOSSTCOMP) algorithm. Due to excessive noise in channel 3 of the instrument, the algorithm used only channel 4 to retrieve the SST. All cloud detection tests were done using the High Resolution Infrared Sounder (HIRS/2) IR channels. A method has been developed that significantly reduces the noise in channel 3 of the TIROS-N AVHRR instrument and permits multichannel (dual window) SST retrievals. Results on noise reduction and a comparison with the Robinson-Bauer climatology model for one and a half month (Nov 1-15, 30 and Dec 1- 31, 1979) AVHRR Global Area Coverage (GAC) data are presented.