Comparison between Argo-derived sea surface temperature and microwave sea surface temperature in tropical Indian Ocean

A comparison between in situ and microwave satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) for the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) during January 2009–December 2010 is presented. All available in situ temperatures close to the surface (∼5 m) from Argo profiling floats are used in this study. Weekly 0.25° × 0.25° spatial resolution SST was produced from these Argo in situ data using the Data-Interpolating Variational Analysis (DIVA) method. This weekly Argo sea surface temperature (ASST) is compared with Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager (TMI)-retrieved Sea Surface Temperature (TMISST) and available blended Optimum-Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) product, at selected regions encompassing the north, central and southern TIO. The results indicate a bias and root mean square error (RMSE) of –0.02°C and 0.45°C between ASST and OISST, whereas the bias and RMSE between ASST and TMISST is observed to be 0.11°C and 0.32°C, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) between ASST and ...