Satellite-derived SST data as a proxy for water temperature in nearshore benthic ecology
Open accessAbstract
Satellite-derived sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are increasingly being used as a proxy for water temperature in nearshore marine ecology, but there have been very few evaluations of how accurately SSTs reflect actual temperatures experienced by subtidal organisms. Here, we describe the benthic temperature climatology of 4 coastal locations along a ~1000 km latitudinal gradient in ocean temperature in Western Australia (WA), and compare temperature records from in situ loggers at 10 to 12 m depth with records from 2 independent satellite-derived SST datasets over 2 years. Satellite-derived SSTs were significantly correlated with in situ logger data at all locations, which demonstrate their overall ability to detect general patterns of ecological importance. However, SSTs were also significantly different from benthic water temperatures (usually 1 to 2°C higher), and they did not adequately detect ecologically important small-scale variability or provide reliable information on temperature extremes. Furthermore, rank orders of the study locations differed between the methodologies, especially in winter. We emphasize the need to carefully consider whether the accuracy and resolution of satellite-derived SSTs are appropriate for the specific ecological hypothesis being tested in nearshore subtidal habitats, and advocate the use of in situ loggers otherwise. We also highlight the suitability of the WA coastline for experimental work on the effects of temperature (and synergistic factors) on marine organisms.
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Datasets with high spatial and temporal resolution have more variability than those aggregating across larger areas or based on smoother longer time means.
“Datasets with a high spatial and temporal resolution have more variability than those aggregating across larger areas or based on (smoother) longer time means (Smale and Wernberg 2009).”
From A hierarchical approach to defining marine heatwaves (2016) · cites this paper as Smale and Wernberg 2009
The ‘Satellite-derived vs. logger-derived data’ section says satellite SST data miss small-scale temperature fluctuations across time and space, supporting the point that coarse data can conceal variation. But it also reports greater spatial variability in the satellite SST measurements than in the logger measurements. The paper therefore does not support the claim as a general rule that higher-resolution datasets have more variability. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe in situ logger data reveal higher temporal SST variability but a lower peak intensity than the daily satellite dataset, consistent with previous analysis in this region.
“The high temporal resolution provided by the in situ logger data reveals higher temporal SST variability, but a lower peak intensity than the daily satellite dataset, consistent with previous analysis of sub-surface in situ and daily satellite data in this region (Smale and Wernberg 2009).”
From A hierarchical approach to defining marine heatwaves (2016) · cites this paper as Smale and Wernberg 2009
The ‘Satellite-derived vs. logger-derived data’ section (page not available) says in situ recorders capture short-term temperature fluctuations that satellite data cannot resolve. It also reports that daily AVHRR temperatures were generally higher than logger temperatures, but gives this comparison for annual and seasonal means, not peak intensity. The claimed lower logger peak intensity is therefore not established by the cited analysis. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Katsaros KB (2003) Satellite versus in situ measurements at the air-sea interface. In: Potter TD, Colman BR (eds) Handbook of weather, climate and water. John Wiley & Sons, New York
- Koslow JAS, Pesant S, Feng M, Pearce A and others (2008) The effect of the Leeuwin Current on phytoplankton biomass and production off Southwestern Australia. J Geophys Res 113:C07050 doi:10.1029/2007JC004102 · DOI
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A hierarchical approach to defining marine heatwaves
Hobday, A. J., Alexander, L. V., Perkins, S. E., Smale, D. A., Straub, S. C., Oliver, E. C. J., Benthuysen, J. A., Burrows, M. T., Donat, M. G., Feng, M., et al. (2016) · Progress in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2015.12.014 · Cited by 2,377 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Smale, D., & Wernberg, T.
- Affiliations
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Wernberg, T
- ORCID
- Wernberg, T
- Venue
- Marine Ecology Progress Series
- Publisher
- Inter-Research Science Center
- Published
- 2009-07-28
- Volume
- 387
- Pages
- 27-37
- ISSN
- 0171-8630 (ISSN-L)
- 1616-1599
- OpenAlex
- W2129034911
- Cited by
- 163
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 6.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Marine Ecology Progress Series (publishedVersion)
- Marine Biological Association (acceptedVersion)
- UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
- Australasian Journal of Paramedicine (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Keywords
- sea surface temperature, temperature climatology, latitudinal gradient, temperature extremes, Western Australia coast
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