Atlantic Ocean Sea Surface Temperature from NOAA-17 AVHRR Satellite

NOAA-17 satellite's AVHRR instrument provides sea surface temperature data for the Atlantic Ocean with a ground resolution of 1.1 km. This Level 2P dataset is processed under the GHRSST framework from Local Area Coverage binary data originally produced by the US Naval Oceanographic Office. The dataset is available on multiple government platforms, indicating its established use in the scientific community.

Use Cases

• Analyzing regional ocean heat content and thermal fronts using derived SST values from the 11 and 12 micron channels.
• Studying diurnal temperature cycles by leveraging the satellite's sun-synchronous orbit providing approximately twice-daily views of a location.
• Validating and calibrating ocean circulation models with spatially specific SST measurements across the Atlantic basin.
• Monitoring coastal upwelling and other mesoscale oceanographic features facilitated by the 2400 km sensor swath.

Strengths

• Data originates from the well-established AVHRR instrument series, with an operational legacy tracing back to 1978.
• Provides high spatial resolution for SST, with a nadir ground resolution of 1.1 kilometers.
• Follows the standardized GHRSST Level 2P specification, ensuring interoperability with other SST products.

Limitations

• Specific column names, row counts, and dataset size are not documented on any provided platform.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between sources (2007-02-26 and 2026-04-01), creating uncertainty about current maintenance.
• License information is not specified, which may restrict certain uses.

Provenance

Source

US Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO) and NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC).

Collection Method

Derived from Local Area Coverage binary AVHRR SST data from the NOAA-17 satellite, processed to GHRSST Level 2P specifications.

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-04-01 15:27:57.518438

Geography

Atlantic Ocean and nearby regions.