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    • NOAA 1/4-degree Daily Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) Analysis from AVHRR and AMSR, Version 2

    Metadata Updated: December 12, 2025

    This high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) analysis product was developed using an optimum interpolation (OI) technique. The SST analysis has a spatial grid resolution of 0.25 (1/4) degree and temporal resolution of 1 day. The product uses Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) infrared satellite data from the Pathfinder AVHRR SST dataset and additional microwave satellite data from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer on the EOS platform (AMSR-E), which was available from 2002 to 2011. AMSR-E data has a spatial resolution of ~25 km, while AVHRR data has a spatial resolution of ~4 km. AMSR-E can observe SST through cloud cover, resulting in significantly better spatial coverage. AVHRR data is needed in part because AMSR-E does not provide reliable SSTs along coastal regions due to its coarser spatial resolution. Thus, with AVHRR+AMSR, the observations near land come from AVHRR, while AMSR-E has superior spatial coverage over the open ocean. Because of AMSR-E’s almost all-weather capability, the AVHRR+AMSR version provides more accurate information in persistently cloudy areas and during hurricanes and storms. However, even in cloud-free regions, the combined use of infrared and microwave data reduces systematic biases due to the independent error characteristics of the two sensors. The AVHRR+AMSR SST production ended in Oct 2011 when the AMSR-E antenna failed.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date November 29, 2023
    Metadata Created Date December 12, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date December 12, 2025
    Reference Date(s) November 12, 2008 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from ncdc

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

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    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date November 29, 2023
    Metadata Created Date December 12, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date December 12, 2025
    Reference Date(s) November 12, 2008 (publication)
    Responsible Party NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.ncdc:C01634
    Access Constraints Cite as: Richard W. Reynolds, Viva F. Banzon, and NOAA CDR Program (2008): NOAA Optimum Interpolation 1/4 Degree Daily Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) Analysis, Version 2. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5SQ8XB5 [access date]., See the Use Agreement for this CDR available on the CDR page., Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 180.0
    Bbox North Lat 90.0
    Bbox South Lat -90.0
    Bbox West Long -180.0
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update notPlanned
    Graphic Preview Description NOAA logo
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/themes/custom/ncei/logo.svg
    Graphic Preview Type SVG
    Harvest Object Id c487f1b2-7c60-4437-9062-aa81f0fa6f3f
    Harvest Source Id 2cb3ef77-1683-4c2a-9119-dc65e50917c6
    Harvest Source Title ncdc
    Licence See the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for a description of use limitations.
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng; USA
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2002-06-01
    Temporal Extent End 2011-10-04

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