Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Remote sensing of sea surface temperature through infrared radiometry — a review

  • Published:
Sadhana Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A review on the estimation of sea surface temperature (SST) from space using infrared radiometry is presented. The principle of the remote sensing technique, the infrared radiometers and the theory of SST measurement have been explained briefly. The absorption of infrared radiation from earth by the atmospheric constituents has been a major problem in the retrieval of SST from space-borne sensors. The effect of clouds and other atmospheric constituents, especially moisture content/water vapour, has been discussed and the various techniques used for evaluating the atmospheric correction and their limitations are summarised. Development of separate algorithms for each oceanic area coupled with validation by realistic sea truth measurements has been suggested for improving the accuracy of SST measurements from space.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agarwal V K 1983 ISRO Tech. Report ISRO-SAC-TR-32-83, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, India

  • Anding D, Kauth R 1969 Report 2676-1-P, Willow Run Laboratories, Institute of Science and Technology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Anding D, Kauth R 1970Remote Sensing Environ. 1: 217–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anding D, Kauth R 1972Remote Sensing Environ. 2: 171–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aoki T 1979J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. 57: 73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Aoki T, Nakajima S, Kato K 1982J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. 60: 1238–1248

    Google Scholar 

  • Arking A 1982Remote sensing and the atmosphere. Proceedings of the annual technical conference held in Liverpool in December 1982 (Kent: Remote Sensing Society)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball F K 1954Aust. J. Phys. 7: 649–652

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton I J 1981Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 107: 967–972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker F 1982Processes in marine remote sensing. The Belle W Baruch Library in Marine Science. Number 12 (eds) F J Vernberg, F P Diemer (Univ. of South California)

  • Bernstein R L 1982J. Geophys. Res. 87: 9455–9465

    Google Scholar 

  • Bignell K J 1970Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 96: 390–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bignell K J, Saiedy F, Shepard P A 1963J. Opt. Soc. Am. 53: 466–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristor C L 1975 NOAA Tech. Memo. NESS 64, US Department of Commerce, Washington DC

  • Brower R L, Gohrband H S, Pichel W G, Signore T L, Walton C C 1976 NOAA Tech. Memo. NESS 78, US Department of Commerce, Washington DC

  • Brown O B, Chenney R E 1983Rev. Geophys. Spacephys. 21: 1216–1230

    Google Scholar 

  • Buettner K, Kern C 1965J. Geophys. Res. 70: 1329–1336

    Google Scholar 

  • Chahine M T 1980Remote sensing of atmospheres and oceans (ed.) A Deepak (New York: Academic Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chahine M T 1981Oceanography from space (ed.) J F R Gower (New York: Plenum Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chahine M T, McLeese D J, Rosenkranz P W, Staelin D H 1983Manual of remote sensing (ed.) R N Colwell (Falls Church, Va: American Society of Photogrammetry) vol. 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Chedin A, Scot N A, Berroir A 1982J. Appl. Meteorol. 21: 613–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen E M, Cornillon P, Mascarenhas A S 1981Science 212: 661–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark J R, Frank J L 1963Unders. Technol. October: pp. 1–5

  • Coakley J A, Bretherton F P 1982J. Geophys. Res. 87: 4917–4932

    Google Scholar 

  • Coffey M T 1977Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 103: 685–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Cogan J L 1972Interpretation and utilisation of satellite measurements of sea surface temperature, Ph.D. thesis, University of London

  • Cogan J L, Willand O H 1976J. Appl. Meteorol. 15: 173–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colacino M, Rossi E, Vivona F M 1970Pure Appl. Geophys. 83: 98–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins C A, Giovando L F, Smith K A 1975J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 253–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Colwell R N, Brewer W, Landis G, Langley P, Rinker J, Robinson J M, Sorem A L 1963Photogramm. Eng. 29: 761–799

    Google Scholar 

  • Crosby D S, Glasser K S 1978J. Appl. Meterol. 17: 1712–1715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosby D S, De Priest D J 1980Remote sensing of atmospheres and oceans (ed.) A Deepak (New York: Academic Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalu G, Prabhakara C, Lo R C 1981Oceanography from space (ed.) J F R Gower (New York: Plenum)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis P, Viezee W 1964J. Geophys. Res. 69: 3785–3794

    Google Scholar 

  • Deschamps P Y, Phulpin T 1980Boundary-layer Meteorol. 18: 131–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson R R, Gurbutt P A, Pillai V N 1980J. Phy. Oceanogr. 10: 813–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emery J G, Mysak L A 1980J. Phy. Oceanogr. 10: 961–970

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ERS-1 Programme Proposal 1984 Volume 1. System description and mission capabilities. European Space Agency

  • Ewing G C, McAlister E D 1960Science 131: 1374–1376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farmer C B, Houghton J T 1966Nature (London) 209: 1341–1342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming H E 1980Remote sensing of atmospheres and oceans (ed.) A Deepak (New York: Academic Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Garde V K 1978 Tech. Report SAC/RSA/MET/11.1/TN/1/78 Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, India

  • Garde V K, Narayanan M S, Rao B M 1980 Tech. Report SAC/RSA/MET/SN/011/80 Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, India

  • Gopinathan C K, Sastry J S 1986International seminar on long range forecasting of monsoon rainfall, New Delhi, India Meteorol. Dept., April 16–18

  • Grassl H 1973Contrib. Atmos. Phys. 46: 75–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Grassl H 1974Contrib. Atmos. Phys. 47: 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Grassl H, Koepke P 1981Oceanography from space (ed.) J F R Gower (London: Plenum)

    Google Scholar 

  • Griggs M 1968J. Geophys. Res. 73: 7545–7551

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R K 1978aJ. Indian Inst. Sci. 60: 135–169

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R K 1978bJ. Indian Inst. Sci. 60: 253–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R K, Rao U V G 1983Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Eng. Sci.) 6: 255–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanel G 1976Adv. Geophys. 19: 73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Harries J E, Llewellyn-Jones D T, Minnett P J, Saunders R W, Zavody A M 1983Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London A309: 381–395

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris A W, Llewellyn-Jones D T, Harries J E, Williamson E J 1981 Proceedings of IAMAP 3rd Scientific Assembly, Hamburg, August 1981

  • Harris T F, Legeckis R, Vanforeest D 1978Deep-Sea Res. Oceanogr. Abstr. 25: 543–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasse L 1963Tellus 15: 363–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton J T, Lee A C 1972Nat., Phys. Sci. 238: 117–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Huh O K and Di Rosa D 1981Remote Sensing Environ. 11: 371–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idso S B 1981Water Resour. Res. 17: 295–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Imbault D, Scott N A, Chedin A 1981J. Appl. Meteorol. 20: 556–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson N, Kotz S 1970Continuous univariate distributions (Boston: Houghton Miffin) vol. 1

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Katsaros K B 1973J. Phy. Oceanogr. 3: 482–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsaros K B 1977Tellus 29: 229–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsaros K B 1980Air-sea interaction: Instruments and methods (eds) F Dobson, L Hasse, R Davis (London: Plenum)

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsaros K B, Liu W T 1974J. Phy. Oceanogr. 4: 654–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kondratyev K Y A 1969Radiation in the atmosphere (New York: Academic Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauritson L, Nelson G G, Porto F W 1979 NOAA Tech. Memo. NESS 107, CUS Department of Commerce, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • La-Violette P E 1974J. Phy. Oceanogr. 4: 676–684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La-Violette P E, Chabot P L 1968Deep-Sea Res. Oceanogr. Abstr. 15: 617–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La-Violette P E, Chabot P L 1969Deep-Sea Res. Oceanogr. Abstr. 16: 539–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee T N, Atkinson L P, Legeckis R 1981Deep-Sea Res. Oceanogr. Abstr. 28: 347–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legeckis R 1975J. Geophys. Res. 83: 4501–4522

    Google Scholar 

  • Legeckis R, Bane J M 1983J. Geophys. Res. 88: 4611–4616

    Google Scholar 

  • Legeckis R, Legg E, Limeburner R 1980Remote Sensing Environ. 9: 339–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Llewellyn-Jones D T, Minnett P J, Saunders R W, Zavody A M 1984Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. 110: 613–631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowan A N, Blanch G 1940J. Opt. Soc. Am. 30: 70–81

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Maul G A 1980 NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC-9, Proceedings of coastal zone colour workshop, CUS Department of Commerce, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Maul G A, Sidran M 1972Remote Sensing Environ. 2: 165–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maul G A, Sidran M 1973J. Geophys. Res. 78: 1909–1916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAlister E D 1964Appl. Opt. 3: 609–612

    Google Scholar 

  • McAlister E D, McLeish W 1969J. Geophys. Res. 74: 3408–3414

    Google Scholar 

  • McClain E P 1981Oceanography from space (ed.) J F R Gower (London: Plenum)

    Google Scholar 

  • McClain E P, Pichel W G, Walton C C, Ahmed Z, Sutton J 1983Adv. Space Res. 2: 43–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClatchey R A, Fenn R W, Selby J E A, Volz F E, Garing J S 1972 Optical properties of the atmosphere, 3rd edn, AFRCRL-72-0497, Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, L G Hanscom Field Bedford MA

  • McConaughy D C 1980Remote Sensing Environ. 10: 301–310

    Google Scholar 

  • McMillin L M 1971A method of determining surface temperatures from measurements of spectral radiance at two wavelengths, Ph.D. thesis, Iowa State University

  • McMillin L M 1975J. Geophys. Res. 80: 5113–5117

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnett P J, Zadovy A M, Llewellyn-Jones D T 1984Large scale oceanographic experiments and satellites (eds) C Gautier and M Fieux (Dordrecht: D Riedel)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra D K 1981Mausam 32: 59–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Murthy D G K, Bhaduri L, Mathur A, Sudha V, Agarwal V K 1984 ISRO Tech. Report ISRO-SAC-TN-28-84 Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, India

  • NOAA 1981 NOAA polar orbiter data (TIROS-N and NOAA-6) User’s Guide, US Department of Commerce, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathak P N 1982Remote Sensing Environ. 12: 363–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulson C A, Simpson J J 1981J. Geophys. Res. 86: 11044–11054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Platt C M R 1972J. Geophys. Res. 77: 1597–1609

    Google Scholar 

  • Prabhakara C, Dalu G, Kunde V G 1974J. Geophys. Res. 79: 5039–5044

    Google Scholar 

  • Prabhakara C, Dalu G, Lo R C, Nath R N 1979Mon. Weather Rev. 107: 1388–1401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh Babu V, Rao M V, Sadhuram Y 1985Trop. Ocean-Atmos. News. May, 31: 6

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh Kumar M R, Shubha Sathyendranath, Viswambharan N K, Rao L V G 1986Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.) 95: 435–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramdas L A, Raman P K 1946Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. A23: 309–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao P K 1970 Tech. Rep. NESC 54, Environ. Sci. Serv. Admin., Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson W S, Wilkins C H 1958Deep Sea Res. Oceanogr. Abstr. 5: 62–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson B F, De Witt D P 1983Manual of remote sensing (ed.) R N Colwell (Falls Church, Va: American Society of Photogrammetry) vol. 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Roden G I 1980J. Geophys. Res. 85: 2704–2710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roll H U 1965Physics of the marine atmosphere (New York: Academic Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabins F E 1978Remote sensing: principles and interpretation (San Francisco: W H Freeman)

    Google Scholar 

  • Santa Barbara Research Center 1975The SBRC brochure (Goleta, CA: SBRC)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders P M 1967J. Atmos. Sci. 24: 269–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders R W 1982Remote sensing and the atmosphere. Proceedings of the annual technical conference held in Liverpool in December 1982 (Kent: Remote Sensing Society)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saur J F T 1963J. Appl. Meteorol. 2: 417–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selby J E A, Shettle E P, McClatchey R A 1976afgl-tr-76-0258, Environmental research papers No. 587, Hanscomafb, Air Force Geophysics Laboratory

  • Shapiro M M, Gush H P 1966Can. J. Phys. 44: 949–963

    Google Scholar 

  • Shenk W E, Salomonson V V 1971 Tech. Note. 6247, NASA, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Shenk W E, Salomonson V V 1972aJ. Phy. Oceanogr. 2: 157–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Shenk W E, Salomonson V V 1972bJ. Appl. Meteorol. 11: 214–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidran M 1980Remote Sensing Environ. 10: 101–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson J H, Allen C M, Morris N C G 1978J. Geophys. Res. 83: 4607–4614

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson J J, Paulson C A 1980J. Phy. Oceanogr. 10: 399–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh S M 1984Int. J. Remote Sensing 5: 161–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha H S S, Kasture S V, Satyan V, Pandya R M, Solanki P A 1980Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.) 89: 197–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith W L, Rao P K, Koffler R, Kurtis W 1970Mon. Weather Rev. 98: 604–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spangenberg W W, Rowland W R 1960Phys. Fluids 4: 743–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stommel H, Von-Arx W R, Parson D, Richardson W S 1953Science 117: 639–641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stowe L L, Fleming H E 1980Remote Sensing Environ. 9: 57–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strong A E, De Rycke R J 1973Science 182: 482–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strong A E, De Rycke R J, Stumpf H G 1972 Proceedings of the 8th symposium on remote sensing of the environment, 2–6 October, NESS

  • Strong A E, McClain E P 1984Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 65: 138–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stull V R, Wyatt P J, Plass G N 1964Appl. Opt. 3: 243–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stumpf H G 1975J. Phy. Oceanogr. 5: 383–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stumpf H G, Rao P K 1975J. Phy. Oceanogr. 5: 388–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabata S 1977EOS Trans. AGU 58: 886

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabata S 1978J. Appl. Meteorol. 17: 374–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabata S 1981Oceanography from space (ed.) J F R Gower (New York: Plenum)

    Google Scholar 

  • Takashima T, Takayama Y 1981J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. 59: 876–890

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkateswara Rao M V, Ramesh Babu V, Rao L V G, Sastry J S 1986Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.) 95: 417–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Warnecke G, Allison L J, McMillin L M, Szekielda K H 1971J. Phy. Oceanogr. 1: 45–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins W R, White K O, Bower L R, Sojka B Z 1979Appl. Opt. 18: 1149–1153

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinreb M P, Hill M L 1980 NOAA Tech. Rep. NESS 80, Washington DC

  • White K O, Watkins W R, Bruce C W, Meredith R E, Smith F G 1978Appl. Opt. 17: 2711–2720

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe W L 1965Handbook of military infrared technology (Washington DC: US Government Printing Office)

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock A H 1941J. Mar. Res. 4: 153–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock A H, Stommel H 1947J. Meteorol 4: 102–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt P J, Stull N R, Plass G N 1964Appl. Opt. 3: 229–241

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. N K Viswambharan

    Present address: Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory, Campus II, M.G. Road, 682 015, Cochin, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Oceanography, 403 004, Dona Paula, Goa, India

    N K Viswambharan, Shubha Sathyendranath & L V Gangadhara Rao

Authors
  1. N K Viswambharan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shubha Sathyendranath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L V Gangadhara Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The first author was supported by a CSIR fellowship.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Viswambharan, N.K., Sathyendranath, S. & Gangadhara Rao, L.V. Remote sensing of sea surface temperature through infrared radiometry — a review. Sadhana 9, 281–297 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02811970

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02811970

Keywords

Search

Navigation