NOAA-17 Satellite Sea Surface Temperature Data from NAVO

Sea surface temperature data is provided by a regional GHRSST Level 2P dataset derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on the NOAA-17 satellite. The dataset is produced and used operationally by the US Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO) for oceanographic analyses and forecasts. It leverages a sensor with a legacy dating back to 1978, offering a swath width of approximately 2400 km and a ground resolution of 1.1 km at nadir.

Use Cases

• Validating and initializing ocean circulation and weather forecast models using SST retrievals from the 11 and 12 micron channels.
• Monitoring regional ocean thermal fronts and anomalies for climate studies using multi-channel SST data.
• Supporting naval operational missions, such as route planning and sonar performance prediction, with real-time SST analyses.

Strengths

• Data originates from an operational system used by the US Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO), indicating a high standard for reliability.
• The AVHRR sensor provides a wide swath of approximately 2400 km and a high ground resolution of 1.1 km at nadir.
• The sensor platform, NOAA-17, has a known launch date (24 June 2002), providing a clear origin point for the time series.

Limitations

• Critical metadata such as row count, file size, specific columns, and license are unavailable across all platform descriptions.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' field, with one source listing 2008-09-16 and another listing 2026-03-05, casting doubt on data maintenance and currentness.

Provenance

Source

US Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO) via the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST).

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on the NOAA-17 polar-orbiting satellite.

Time Range

Data collection began after the NOAA-17 launch on 24 June 2002; specific end date is unknown.

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:51:31.605899

Geography

Regional coverage (specific region not defined), with a sensor swath width of approximately 2400 km.