Long-term comparison of satellite and in-situ sea surface temperatures around the Korean Peninsula

Abstract:

Two sets of sea surface temperature (SST) observations around the Korean Peninsula are compared for the period between 1984 and 2013. Satellite observed SST data provided by NOAA were compared with the in-situ SST data routinely obtained by NFRDI. Match-up data between the satellite and in-situ SSTs were analyzed, and the match-up results showed root mean square errors (RMSEs) of about 1˚C offshore and 2~3˚C onshore. Satellite SST observations have cold bias less than 1˚C offshore and warm bias of 1~3˚C onshore. The difference between the two datasets in the East Sea is smaller compared with the South Sea and the Yellow Sea. The RMSE between the two datasets in the South Sea is 1~2℃. The Satellite SST observations in the Yellow Sea have warm bias of 0.5~1.0℃ in early 1980’s and cold bias of 0.5℃ in early 2010’s. A warming trend is found for the study period, which is 0.024℃/year in the in-situ data and 0.011℃/year in the satellite data. The difference in the long-term trend between the two SST datasets is mainly due to warm bias in the past and cold bias in the present in the satellite data, which can change the warming trend in the Yellow Sea.