Generation of Sea Surface Temperature Data Sets Using MOS-1/VTIR

Abstract

As the earth science activities for International Space Year (ISY) in Japan, a project for Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data sets has been carried out under the sponsorship by National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) . Authors developed a algorithm for generation of SST data sets using MOS-1/VTIR data. 18 regional SST data sets around Japan Islands from 1989 to 1992 based on this algorithm were created by superimposing of multi-date VTIR data during about one week. The procedure of data processing consists of seven stages, radiometric correction, averaging of row data, cloud elimination, atmospheric correction using split-window equation, image registration, Masking of land area, color coding of SST value and data output. The SST distribution in data set was evaluated by comparing with actual observed sources. The results showed the validity for the investigation of SST distribution and the monitoring of ocean currents. Especially, the possibility for monitoring of the change of the Kuroshio Current was recognized.