SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE-MEASUREMENTS BY THE ATSR

The Along Track Scanning Radiometer has been producing global sea-surf ace-temperature values since September 1991. The UK Meteorological Off ice has been assessing these by comparing them with their operational analysis and by carrying out a dedicated aircraft validation experimen t. The initial results show an improvement in the sea surface temperat ure values obtained when the dual-view retrieval is used rather than a conventional nadir-only multichannel retrieval. The radiative effect of volcanic aerosols at 11 mum and 12 mum was also measured by the C-1 30 aircraft and found to be small but not negligible.