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Sea Surface Temperature Sensors for Australian Vessels

Remotely sensed sea surface temperature data is important for ocean, weather, seasonal and climate models. In order to provide the validation of satellite measured sea surface temperature and ocean models in the Australian region, there is a need for high quality, in situ sea surface temperature observations. Simple hull contact sensors are placed on the inside of a ship’s hull, below the waterline and away from any heat source, providing reliable and continuous sea surface temperature data.

Waves

Data collection

Historically, this data was solely derived from moorings and drifting buoys, however, there are significant restrictions on the spatial coverage provided by these platforms alone. Sea Surface Temperature Sensors for Australian Vessels provide the much needed, high quality and, high spatial coverage of sea surface temperature data for Australian waters.

SST Sensor Deployments and Data Streams: A table summarising vessels, sensors and their data streams contributing SST data to IMOS

Useful information

Reports

IMOS ship SST for satellite SST validation

A report on IMOS ship SST data sets – nine years of in situ subsurface ‘SSTdepth’ and two years of ship-based remotely sensed ‘SSTskin’ quality-assured observations from ships of opportunity – and their application for satellite SST validation.

Beggs, H., J. Sisson and N. Morgan (2017) IMOS Ship SST for Satellite SST Validation, In: Proceedings of the GHRSST XVIII Science Team Meeting, Qingdao, China, 5th – 9th June 2017. 

Enhancing ship of opportunity sea surface temperature observations in the Australian region

A paper describing the new IMOS SST Sensor products.

Beggs H., R. Verein, G. Paltoglou, H. Kippo and M. Underwood (2012) Enhancing ship of opportunity sea surface temperature observations in the Australian region, Journal of Operational Oceanography, (ISSN: 1755-8778), 5, 59-73.  

Report on Rottnest Ferry SST Validations Tests

A short technical report describing the quality of the SST data from the Rottnest Island Ferry (PV SeaFlyte) and tests performed to determine the sources of the SST errors.

Quality control procedure for IMOS real-time meteorological and sea surface observations, and air-sea fluxes from research vessel and mooring platforms

Schulz, Eric, Janice Sisson and Helen Beggs (2021) Quality control procedure for IMOS real-time meteorological and sea surface observations, and air-sea fluxes from research vessel and mooring platforms, Bureau Research Report No. 059, September 2021, pp 14.

Useful links
International Programs

Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST)

Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System Initiative (SAMOS)

International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS) 

International Shipborne Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer Network

NOAA/STAR In Situ SST Quality Monitor Web Site (iQuam)

Global Ocean Surface Underway Data

ERRDAP

EMODnet

Contact

Helen Beggs
E:
 Helen.Beggs(at)bom.gov.au

Operating institution

Bureau of Meteorology