Reynolds SST Analysis
A real-time global sea surface temperature (SST) analysis has been
developed by Richard Reynolds from the
National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
Also, a monthly
one-degree global SST climatology was constructed using these analyses by
the
Climate Prediction Center (CPC/NOAA). This climatology derived from
monthly Optimum Interpolation (OIv2) SST analyses with an adjusted base
period of 1971-2000 was used in computing the SST anomaly field using a
weighted monthly mean climatology and the current observed Reynolds SST
field. The actual areal coverage of the analysis and the anomally data is
roughly between 60°S and 60°N globally.
These analyses were based on ship
and buoy SST data supplemented with satellite SST retrievals. The one degree
climatology and analyses resolve equatorial upwelling and fronts.
The optimum interpolation (OIv2) SST analysis is produced weekly on a
one-degree grid. The analysis uses buoy and ship data, satellite SST data,
and SST's simulated by sea-ice coverage. Before the analysis is computed,
the satellite data is adjusted for biases using the method described by
Reynolds (1988) and Reynolds and Marsico (1993). A description of the
analysis can be found in Reynolds and Smith (1994).
The National Hurricane Center uses the SST
analyses in forecasting tropical cyclone intensity in statistical hurricane
models. Every Monday or Tuesday the graphics are updated for the previous
week. The SST analyses are separated into Eastern Pacific and Atlantic
domains. An analysis and anomaly chart are produced for each domain. The
analysis chart contains the current SST comprised from current observations.
The anomaly chart is the global SST climatology subtracted from the SST
analysis.
Monthly Mean Climatology Fields (1971-2000)
Atlantic:
Jan -
Feb -
Mar -
Apr -
May -
Jun -
Jul -
Aug -
Sep -
Oct -
Nov -
Dec
Pacific:
Jan -
Feb -
Mar -
Apr -
May -
Jun -
Jul -
Aug -
Sep -
Oct -
Nov -
Dec
Additional Links of Interest
NOAA/NESDIS Sea Surface Temperature Homepage
NOAA Climate Diagnostics Center SST Images
NOAA Optimum Interpolation 1/4 Degree Daily Sea Surface Temperature Analysis
University of Miami – Experimental SST / Oceanic Heat Content
University of Wisconsin – Latest SST Image
University of Wisconsin – Main SST Page
References
Reynolds, R. W., T. M. Smith, C. Liu, D. B. Chelton, K. S. Casey, and M. G. Schlax, 2007: Daily
high-resolution blended analyses for sea surface temperature. J. Climate, 20, 5473-5496.
Reynolds, R. W. and T. M. Smith, 1994: Improved global sea surface
temperature analyses using optimum interpolation. J. Climate,
7, 929-948.
Reynolds, R. W. and D. C. Marsico, 1993: An improved real-time global
sea surface temperature analysis. J. Climate, 6,
114-119.
Reynolds, R. W., 1988: A real-time global sea surface temperature
analysis. J. Climate, 1, 75-86.
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