Metop-B Satellite Sea Surface Temperature From IASI Infrared Sounder

Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) measurements provide global sea surface temperature (SST) data at a nadir resolution of 12 km, with a swath width of 2,200 km enabling twice-daily global coverage. The European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Ocean and Sea Ice Satellite Application Facility (OSI SAF) produces these Level 2P SST retrievals in near real-time from the MetOp-B satellite, launched in September 2012. The dataset is formatted according to the GHRSST Data Specification (GDS) version 2 standard.

Use Cases

• Analyzing diurnal SST variability using the twice-daily global observation capability.
• Validating ocean circulation and heat flux models with SST retrievals at a 12 km nadir resolution.
• Assimilating near real-time SST fields from the IASI L2 processor into numerical weather prediction systems.
• Studying frontal boundaries and upwelling regions using the detailed infrared-derived skin SST measurements.
• Monitoring marine heatwaves and long-term SST trends using the consistent, standards-compliant GDS2 data record.

Strengths

• Provides high-resolution infrared SST measurements with a nadir horizontal resolution of 12 km.
• Offers global coverage twice daily due to the MetOp-B satellite's 14-orbit sun-synchronous schedule.
• Data is produced in near real-time by the authoritative EUMETSAT OSI SAF processing chain.
• Format compliance with the GHRSST Data Specification (GDS) version 2 ensures interoperability.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and complete column schema are unknown from available sources.
• Conflicting metadata exists: one platform lists a last updated date of 2026-04-01 (future date), while another lists none, casting doubt on timestamp accuracy.
• The dataset is limited to skin SST from a single instrument (IASI) on one satellite platform (MetOp-B).

Provenance

Source

European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Ocean and Sea Ice Satellite Application Facility (OSI SAF).

Collection Method

SST retrievals generated in real-time by the IASI L2 processor from infrared interferometer measurements on the MetOp-B satellite.

Time Range

From the MetOp-B satellite launch date (17 September 2012) onwards.

Freshness

2026-04-01 14:53:15.827521

Geography

Global coverage.