GHRSST Level 3U: Global Subskin Sea Surface Temperature from GPM-GMI Satellite

GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) data provides global subskin sea surface temperature measurements. The GPM satellite, launched February 27, 2014, is a joint NASA and JAXA mission with a 65-degree inclined orbit for full local time sampling. Data is processed by Remote Sensing Systems using Version-8 algorithms and is available in near-real time with a 3 to 6-hour delay as Daily, 3-Day, Weekly, and Monthly products.

Use Cases

• Model ocean heat content and climate patterns based on global subskin sea surface temperature measurements.
• Assimilate near-real-time satellite data into weather and ocean forecasting systems based on the 3 to 6-hour latency.
• Study diurnal and seasonal temperature cycles based on the satellite's full sampling of all local Earth times.
• Calibrate and validate other sea surface temperature datasets based on GMI's multi-channel, conical-scanning microwave radiometer data.

Strengths

• Data is available in near-real time with a latency of about 3 to 6 hours.
• Satellite orbit inclined 65 degrees allows full sampling of all local Earth times.
• Produced by NASA and JAXA's GPM mission, a major international partnership for precipitation and environmental measurement.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and spatial/temporal resolution specifics are not provided in the metadata.
• Data may reflect the specific biases of the GMI instrument's conical-scanning, passive microwave radiometer methodology.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and international partners.

Collection Method

Measured by the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument onboard the GPM satellite and processed by Remote Sensing Systems (REMSS) using an updated RTM, Version-8.

Time Range

Coverage from at least the GPM launch date of February 27, 2014, with ongoing near-real-time production.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 02:40:32.268033; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global ocean coverage.