Plans to use the Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature data inputs to replace REYNSST
| Platform | Terra,Aqua |
|---|---|
| Instrument | MODIS |
| Source | MODAPS,LAADS |
| Issue | news |
| Last Updated | 2023-02-08 18:30:00 |
| Start | 2023-02-08 18:30:00 |
| End | 2023-12-31 23:59:59 |
| Description |
On November 27, 2022, NOAA discontinued the production of the Reynolds Sea Surface Temperature (REYNSST) weekly data files, used to generate several cloud products (i.e., M*D35_L2 & M*D06_L2) from MODAPS. The last REYNSST product MODAPS received is from January 29, 2023. The MODIS Atmosphere science team has agreed to use the daily mean Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) data provided by NCEI-NOAA as a replacement for the REYNSST. But the OISST inputs have a different file format and are stored at different spatial and temporal resolutions, and are not compatible with the existing MODIS algorithms. Hence, work is currently underway to convert these new files into a format compatible with the various operational MODIS cloud algorithms that are affected by this change, and to test the performance of these algorithms with this new input. In the meantime, we will continue to produce all C61 cloud products in forward processing using the latest available (January 29, 2023) weekly-mean REYNSST inputs. Preliminary assessment, conducted by the cloud team, has shown that using the older REYNSST data might affect up to 10% of each granule's pixels; however, the overall changes are minimal. For example, the mean differences of the cloud-top pressure products are less than 0.2% (2 hPa). We expect to get the OISST data inputs operationally ready by the end of March 2023. We will subsequently reprocess all the products from the affected time-period and inform users when complete. |