NOAA-20 VIIRS: Global Nighttime Sea Surface Temperature (NRT)

NOAA-20 VIIRS satellite provides near real-time global maps of nighttime sea surface temperature at 11µm. The Ocean Biology DAAC produces these quicklook products using the best-available ancillary meteorological and ozone data, though the calibration is noted as less than optimal. This data offers a snapshot from a short time period within a single orbit.

Use Cases

• Monitor short-term ocean temperature anomalies based on near real-time satellite observations.
• Study diurnal sea surface temperature cycles based on the 11µm nighttime measurement band.
• Assimilate quicklook data into operational ocean forecasting models based on the near real-time availability.
• Analyze spatial patterns of sea surface temperature based on the global mapped product format.

Strengths

• Data is produced by NASA's Ocean Biology DAAC, an authoritative source for oceanographic satellite data.
• Product is in near real-time, providing timely snapshots of ocean conditions.
• Data has a global spatial coverage, enabling worldwide analysis.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• The calibration and inputs are described as 'less than optimal' for these quicklook products.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the NOAA-20 VIIRS instrument, processed into Level-3 mapped products.

Time Range

Near real-time, with data from a short time period within a single orbit.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:17:04.593259; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global