Aqua MODIS SST4: Near Real-Time Daytime Sea Surface Temperature

Global sea surface temperature data is derived from Aqua MODIS satellite thermal infrared observations during daytime. This near real-time product provides a snapshot of data from a short time period within a single orbit, using the best-available ancillary meteorological and ozone data. Users apply it to detect ocean fronts and eddies, monitor marine heatwaves, and drive ecosystem models.

Use Cases

• Detecting ocean fronts and eddies based on spatial temperature gradients (sst).
• Monitoring marine heatwaves using time-series analysis of sea surface temperature.
• Driving ecosystem and habitat models by pairing SST with chlorophyll-a (chlor_a) and PAR data.
• Providing boundary conditions for biogeochemical and climate analyses.

Strengths

• Provides near real-time (NRT) data, offering timely snapshots for monitoring.
• Includes detailed geophysical variables for quality control, such as bias_sst, qual_sst, and l2_flags.
• Data is produced by NASA's Ocean Biology DAAC, indicating an authoritative source.

Limitations

• Inputs and calibration are described as 'less than optimal' compared to standard science products.
• Infrared-based SST is sensitive to clouds, aerosols, and diurnal warming, requiring careful analysis with provided flags.
• Metadata for row count, size, and license is unavailable across all sources.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ocean Biology DAAC

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via Aqua MODIS instrument, thermal infrared observations.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-03-13 according to datagov entries.

Geography

Global