SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE VARIABILITY OF THE ICELAND-FAEROE FRONT - CORRECTION

In a previous study by Niiler et al. (1992), advanced very high resolu tion radiometer (AVHRR) images were used for locating the Iceland-Faer oe front temperature distributions and gradients .In that study the sa tellite-sensed sea surface temperatures were found to contain an error after an atmospheric correction algorithm was applied. This was deter mined through a regression fit of AVHRR data against in situ aircraft- deployed expendable bathythermograph (AXBT) and conductivity-temperatu re-depth measurements. Recently, Minnett (1993) pointed out that an er ror occurred in that fit. As a result, we decided to repeat the compar isons of AVHRR sea surface temperature (SST) data against in situ meas urements. After correcting several errors, we still find a shift of ab out 2-degrees-C in the scatter of AVHRR against AXBT SST data. The bia s (mean difference) was 1.73-degrees-C, and the standard deviation was 0.3-degrees-C.