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A comparison of SSM/I-derived global marine surface-specific humidity datasets: SSM/I-DERIVED GLOBAL MARINE SURFACE HUMIDITY DATASETS

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Prytherch, John, Kent, Elizabeth C., Fangohr, Susanne, Berry, David I.·2015·International Journal of Climatology
DOI 10.1002/joc.4150
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Abstract

Satellite-based microwave sensors have, since the 1980s, provided a means to retrieve near-surface marine specific humidity (qa), accurate estimation of which is necessary for climate and air–sea interaction applications. Seven satellite measurement-derived monthly mean humidity datasets are compared with one another and with a dataset constructed from in situ measurements. The means, spatial and temporal structures of the datasets are shown to be markedly different, with a range of yearly, global mean qa of ∼1 g kg–1. Comparison of the datasets derived using the same satellite measurements of brightness temperature reveals differences in qa that depend on the source of satellite data; the processing and quality control applied to the data; and the algorithm used to derive qa from the satellite measurements of brightness temperature. Regional differences between satellite-derived qa due to the choice of input data, quality control and retrieval algorithm can all exceed the accuracy requirements for surface flux calculation of ∼0.3 g kg–1 and in some cases can be several g kg–1 in monthly means for some periods and regions.

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  • Uncertainties in near-surface air temperature and humidity are the leading sources of uncertainties for satellite-derived products.

    “Uncertainties in near-surface air temperature and humidity are the leading sources of uncertainties for satellite-derived products (Prytherch et al., 2015).”

    From The tropical atlantic observing system (2019) · cites this paper as Prytherch et al., 2015

    The Introduction (page not available in our copy) says variation in near-surface humidity fields is the largest source of uncertainty in global marine latent heat flux products. It does not make the same claim about air temperature or satellite-derived products generally. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Prytherch, J., Kent, E. C., Fangohr, S., & Berry, D. I.
Affiliations
  • National Oceanography Centre (GB)
  • University of Southampton (GB)
Corresponding author
Prytherch, John
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Climatology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2014-09-30
Volume
35
Issue
9
Pages
2359-2381
ISSN
0899-8418 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1002/joc.4150
OpenAlex
W1510542448
Cited by
14
References
0
Citations by year
2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
FWCI
0.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Climatology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • NERC Open Research Archive (Natural Environment Research Council) (acceptedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Natural Environment Research Council
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate variability and models
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Ocean Waves and Remote Sensing
Keywords
SSM/I, brightness temperature, dataset intercomparison, retrieval algorithm, data quality control, air-sea fluxes

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