GHRSST Level 2P Global Sea Surface Skin Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (GDS versions 1 and 2)
Preview graphic
NASA produces skin sea surface temperature (SST) products from the Infrared (IR) channels of the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Aqua satellite. Aqua was launched by NASA on May 4, 2002, into a sun synchronous, polar orbit with a daylight ascending node at 1:30 pm, formation flying in the A-train with other Earth Observation Satellites (EOS), to study the global dynamics of the Earth atmosphere, land and oceans. MODIS captures data in 36 spectral bands at a variety of spatial resolutions. Two SST products can be present in these files. The first is a skin SST produced for both day and night (NSST) observations, derived from the long wave IR 11 and 12 micron wavelength channels, using a modified nonlinear SST algorithm intended to provide continuity of SST derived from heritage and current NASA sensors. At night, a second SST product is generated using the mid-infrared 3.95 and 4.05 micron wavelength channels which are unique to MODIS; the SST derived from these measurements is identified as SST4. The SST4 product has lower uncertainty, but due to sun glint can only be used at night. MODIS L2P SST data have a 1 km spatial resolution at nadir and are stored in 288 five minute granules per day. Full global coverage is obtained every two days, with coverage poleward of 32.3 degree being complete each day. The production of MODIS L2P SST files is part of the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST) project and is a joint collaboration between the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG), and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). Researchers at RSMAS are responsible for SST algorithm development, error statistics and quality flagging, while the OBPG, as the NASA ground data system, is responsible for the production of daily MODIS ocean products. JPL acquires MODIS ocean granules from the OBPG and reformats them to the GHRSST L2P netCDF specification with complete metadata and ancillary variables, and distributes the data as the official Physical Oceanography Data Archive (PO.DAAC) for SST. The R2019.0 supersedes the previous R2014.0 datasets.
- Cite as: US NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (JPL PO.DAAC) (2006). GHRSST Level 2P Global Sea Surface Skin Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (GDS versions 1 and 2). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/GHRSST-MODIS_A-JPL-L2P. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:GHRSST-MODIS_A-JPL-L2P
Search Data |
-
Granule Search (search)
Search for data granules belonging to this collection (a granule is the smallest aggregation of data that can be independently described and retrieved).
|
Download Data |
-
THREDDS (download)
These data are available through a variety of services via a THREDDS (Thematic Real-time Environmental Distributed Data Services) Data Server (TDS). Depending on the dataset, the TDS can provide WMS, WCS, DAP, HTTP, and other data access and metadata services as well. For more information on the TDS, see http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/thredds/current/tds/.
-
HTTPS (download)
Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
-
FTP (download)
These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
|
Distribution Formats |
- netCDF (Version: netCDF-3)
- File Specification: GDS-1.0r1.5, CF-1.0
- File Compression: bzip2
- netCDF (Version: netCDF-4)
- File Specification: GDS-2.0, CF-1.6
|
Ordering Instructions |
Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. |
Distributor |
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov
|
Dataset Point of Contact |
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov
|
Time Period |
2006-06-30 to 2022-01-24 |
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates |
West: -180
East: 180
South: -90
North: 90
|
Spatial Coverage Map |
|
General Documentation |
|
Associated Resources |
- GHRSST User Guide version 9.1
- The Recommended GHRSST Data Specification (GDS) GDS 2.0 revision 5
- Brown, O. B. & Minnett, P. J. (1999). MODIS Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Algorithm - Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document. Version 2.0. University of Miami. 91 pp.
- NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group (2016). Long-Wave Sea Surface Temperature (SST), NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG).
- NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group (2016). Short-Wave Sea Surface Temperature (SST4), NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG).
- Ionin, Raisa; Hager, Lori. Data Stewardship Maturity Report for GHRSST Level 2P Global Skin Sea Surface Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (GDS versions 1 and 2). NOAA Technical Information Series NESDIS DSMR; 00123. 2021. https://doi.org/10.25923/p2yd-2m38
- Kilpatrick, K. A., Podestá, G., Walsh, S., Williams, E., Halliwell, V., Szczodrak, M., Brown, O. B., Minnett, P. J., & Evans, R. (2015). A decade of sea surface temperature from MODIS. Remote Sensing of Environment, 165, 27–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2015.04.023
- JPL/OBPG/RSMAS (2020). GHRSST Level 2P Global Sea Surface Skin Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (GDS2). https://doi.org/10.5067/ghmda-2pj19
- The Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (2015). Documentation for The Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST) data archived at NCEI (NCEI Accession 0123222). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0123222.
|
Publication Dates |
- publication: 2006-09-13
- revision: 2022-04-12
|
Data Presentation Form |
Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
|
Dataset Progress Status |
Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility |
Data Update Frequency |
As needed |
Supplemental Information |
This collection includes data from the following product(s): GHRSST Level 2P Global Sea Surface Skin Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (GDS2) (MODIS_A-JPL-L2P-v2019.0); GHRSST Level 2P Global Skin Sea Surface Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (MODIS_A-JPL-L2P-v2014.0); GHRSST Level 2P Global Skin Sea Surface Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (JPL-L2P-MODIS_A). |
Purpose |
This dataset is available to the public for a wide variety of uses including scientific research and analysis. |
Use Limitations |
- 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.
|
Dataset Citation |
- Cite as: US NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (JPL PO.DAAC) (2006). GHRSST Level 2P Global Sea Surface Skin Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (GDS versions 1 and 2). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/GHRSST-MODIS_A-JPL-L2P. Accessed [date].
|
Cited Authors |
|
Originators |
|
Contributors |
|
Resource Providers |
|
Points of Contact |
|
Publishers |
|
Theme keywords |
NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS
NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS
WMO_CategoryCode
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
|
Data Center keywords |
NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
|
Platform keywords |
NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes
|
Instrument keywords |
NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
|
Place keywords |
NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
|
Project keywords |
NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
|
Keywords |
NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
|
Use Constraints |
- Cite as: US NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (JPL PO.DAAC) (2006). GHRSST Level 2P Global Sea Surface Skin Temperature from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Aqua satellite (GDS versions 1 and 2). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/GHRSST-MODIS_A-JPL-L2P. Accessed [date].
|
Access Constraints |
- 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.
|
Fees |
- In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
|
Lineage information for: repository |
Processing Steps |
- 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
|
Acquisition Information (collection) |
Instrument |
|
Platform |
|
Last Modified: 2025-03-31T17:29:17Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email:
ncei.info@noaa.gov