Aircraft measurement of sea surface temperature during the West Coast Experiment

During the West Coast Experiment in March 1977, a test was conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of using remote sensing techniques to estimate sea surface temperature (SST) from infrared (IR) emissions of the sea surface. Aircraft flights were made over three buoys moored in southern California coastal waters, and data was collected of sea surface emissions at thermal IR wavelengths (7.95-13.5 mum). SST obtained from the remote sensing measurements were compared with in situ SST measured with thermistors mounted on the buoys. The remotely determined SST were from1.4-2.9degC lower than the in situ measurements. Several factors are discussed that could account for the differences.