Last edited: Oct-19-2010


PathFinder SST is a reprocessed long term product derived from AVHRR radiances. Information about PathFinder SST data generation and access is given at JPL Physical Oceanography site and the algorithm is explained in Kilpatrick et al., 2001. Here, the daily 4km PathFinder v5.0 AVHRR SST reanalysis data have been analyzed in a retrospective mode.

PathFinder FTP data access:

PO.DAAC JPL (used in these analyses)
NODC

Temporal coverage of satellites for data used in these PFv5.0 analyses

  • 1985-01-04  to  1988-11-07  [1985004-1988312]: NF  NOAA-09
  • 1988-11-08  to  1994-09-13  [1988313-1994256]: NH  NOAA-11
  • 1994-09-14  to  1995-01-19  [1994257-1995019]: NF  NOAA-09
  • 1995-01-20  to  2000-10-13  [1995020-2000287]: NJ  NOAA-14
  • 2000-10-14  to  2002-12-31  [2000288-2002365]: NL  NOAA-16
  • 2003-01-01  to  2005-06-04  [2003001-2005155]: NM  NOAA-17
  • 2005-06-05  to  2009-12-31  [2005156-2009365]: NN  NOAA-18

Analyses in SQUAM

A.) Pathfinder v5.0 data have been analyzed here (1985-2009). Following data were appended, using Bilinear Interpolation, for analyses and diagnostics in the SQUAM:
  • Three L4 SSTs (daily Reynolds, RTG high resolution, and OSTIA)
  • Daily averaded global NCDC sea wind data
  • Daily averaded global CDC total precipittable water data

B.) The PathFinder v5.0 data are provided with quality flags ranging from 0 to 7 (0: lowest quality, 7: highest quality). In the SQUAM analyses presented here, the SSTs corresponding to flags 4 to 7 were selected.

C.) Differences between PathFinder and L4 SSTs are analyzed via global maps, histograms, time series statistics, and dependency (daily, and Hovmöller-like time series) plots. Additionally, "day - night" and "cross-version, e.g., PFv6.0 - PF v5.0, (provision for future)" consistencies are checked employing double differenceing and are shown as time series plots.