MODIS Terra: Sea Surface Temperature Nighttime 8-Day Gridded Data

NASA MODIS Terra satellite provides global skin sea surface temperature (SST) data processed into Level 3 spatially gridded products. The dataset includes average daily, weekly (8-day), monthly, and annual SST at 4.63 and 9.26 km resolution, with a nighttime SST4 product derived from unique mid-infrared channels. The data is generated by the NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group and distributed by JPL, with the current version superseding a previous release.

Use Cases

• Monitor global ocean temperature trends based on 8-day and monthly averaged SST products.
• Compare daytime and nighttime skin SST measurements based on the described dual-product system.
• Analyze SST data continuity with heritage sensors based on the modified nonlinear SST algorithm.
• Study regional ocean phenomena using gridded data at 4.63 km spatial resolution.

Strengths

• Includes a dedicated nighttime SST4 product derived from unique MODIS mid-infrared channels, which has lower uncertainty.
• Provides data at two spatial resolutions (4.63 km and 9.26 km) and multiple temporal averages (daily, 8-day, monthly, annual).
• Algorithm development and quality flagging are handled by a specialized team at RSMAS, indicating expert curation.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The SST4 product is only available at night due to sun glint constraints.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG), Physical Oceanography Data Archive (PO.DAAC).

Collection Method

Data captured by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra satellite, binned and mapped into grid projections.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 00:26:33.174563; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global.