Sea surface effects on the sea surface temperature estimation by remote sensing

Abstract

Abstract By using a sea surface temperature profiler buoy, the behaviour of the vertical temperature profile near the sea surface was observed in Mutsu Bay. In the daytime under calm and strong sunshine condition, there occurred a large temperature difference between the uppermost sea surface and the 1 m depth. The difference disappeared when the wind began to blow with a speed greater than 4ms−1. Besides the atmospheric effects the inhomogeneity of the vertical temperature distribution near the sea surface must be another major error factor in the sea surface temperature estimation by satellite remote sensing.