Aqua MODIS Level-3 Global Mapped Daytime Sea Surface Temperature Near Real-time Data

Near real-time (NRT) global sea surface temperature (SST) data derived from thermal infrared observations during daytime by the Aqua MODIS satellite. The Ocean Biology DAAC produces this data using the best-available ancillary meteorological and ozone data available at the time. It provides a snapshot of conditions within a single orbit, though inputs and calibration are noted as less than optimal.

Use Cases

• Detect ocean fronts and eddies based on sea surface temperature patterns.
• Monitor marine heatwave events based on global SST anomalies.
• Drive ecosystem and habitat models by pairing SST with chlorophyll-a, diffuse attenuation, and PAR data.
• Provide boundary conditions for biogeochemical and climate analyses based on global SST fields.

Strengths

• Provides global, mapped sea surface temperature data.
• Offers near real-time availability for monitoring current ocean conditions.
• Includes a quality level flag (qual_sst) for each SST measurement.

Limitations

• Inputs and calibration are described as 'less than optimal' compared to standard products.
• IR-based SST is sensitive to clouds, aerosols, and diurnal warming, requiring careful analysis.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

Ocean Biology DAAC (OB_DAAC) via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Derived from thermal infrared observations by the Aqua MODIS satellite.

Freshness

Near real-time

Geography

Global