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Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes Version 3 (GSSTF3)

Climate Data Guide Image: GSSTF3 latent heat flux

Version 3: The Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF) data set is part of the NASA Making Earth Science Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) Project. The objective of this project is to continually produce a uniform data set of sea surface turbulent fluxes derived from remote sensing data and analysis that have been and continue to be useful for global energy and water flux research and applications. This product is useful for diagnosing the global water and energy cycle interaction of higher frequency scenario. Fully tested, these products can serve as a crucial input for data assimilation of oceanic GCMs. In contrast to previous versions, the GSSTF_3 is on a 0.25x0.25 degree grid, as well as involving an updated algorithm for surface air humidity retrieval. Similar to the preceding Version 2c GSSTF, a corrected/improved set of SSM/I Brightness temperatures (Tb) have been used. Basically, the artificial trends found in the original SSM/I V6 Brightness Temperatures (used for producing Version 2b GSSTF previously) due mainly to the variations/trends of Earth incidence angle (EIA) in the SSM/I satellites were genuinely removed.

Key Strengths:

  • High resolution
  • Artificial trends removed

Technical Notes

As in previous versions, the daily fluxes have first been produced for each individual available SSM/I satellite tapes (e.g., F08, F10, F11, F13, F14 and F15). Then, the Combined daily fluxes are produced by averaging (equally weighted) over available flux data/files from various satellites. These Combined daily flux data are considered as the "final" GSSTF, Version 3, and are stored in this HDF-EOS5 collection. The monthly temporal and one-degree spatial resolution of the product can be used to examining climate variability at these scales. Oceanic evaporation contributes to the net fresh water input to the oceans and drives the upper ocean density structure and consequently the circulation of the oceans.

Years of Record

1997/12 to 2008/11
temporal metadataID:

Formats

Timestep

Climatology | Sub-daily | Daily | Monthly

Data Time Period Extended?

yes, data set is extended

Domain

Global

Spatial Resolution

0.25x0.25

Ocean or Land

Ocean Only

Missing Data Flag

missing data present

Input Data

satellite radiances

Earth system components and main variables

Atmosphere, Specific Humidity, Wind, Wind Stress, Latent & sensible heat flux, Ocean, Surface Flux

Data Access: Please Cite data sources, following the data providers' instructions.

  1. Goddard Satellite-Based Surface Turbulent Fluxes
  2. MEaSUREs Projects at the GES DISC

Key Figures

Click the thumbnails to view larger sizes

Thumbnails

Captions
Climate Data Guide Image: GSSTF3 sensible and latent heat flux GSSTF3 monthly mean (July, 2008) estimates of sensible and latent heat flux (W/m2). (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)
Climate Data Guide Image: GSSTF3 zonal and meridional wind stress GSSTF3 daily mean (December 31, 2008) estimates of zonal and meridional wind stress (N/m2). (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)
Climate Data Guide Image: GSSTF3 estimates of total wind stress GSSTF3 daily mean (December 31, 2008) estimates of total wind stress (N/m2) with vectors super imposed. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)
Climate Data Guide Image: GSSTF3 GSSTF3 climatology for January (1998-2008). Variables are total precipitable water, surface air (~10 m) specific humidity, sea-air humidity difference and 10 meter wind speed. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)
Climate Data Guide Image: GSSTF3 GSSTF3 climatology for January (1998-2008). Variables are: sensible and latent heat flux, zonal and meridional wind stress. (Climate Data Guide; D. Shea)

Cite this page

National Center for Atmospheric Research Staff (Eds). Last modified 08 Oct 2013. "The Climate Data Guide: Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes Version 3 (GSSTF3)." Retrieved from https://climatedataguide.ucar.edu/climate-data/goddard-satellite-based-surface-turbulent-fluxes-version-3-gsstf3.

Acknowledgement of any material taken from this page is appreciated. On behalf of experts who have contributed data, advice, and/or figures, please cite their work as well.

Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes Version 3 (GSSTF3)

Version 3: The Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF) data set is part of the NASA Making Earth Science Data Records for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) Project. The objective of this project is to continually produce a uniform data set of sea surface turbulent fluxes derived from remote sensing data and analysis that have been and continue to be useful for global energy and water flux research and applications. This product is useful for diagnosing the global water and energy cycle interaction of higher frequency scenario. Fully tested, these products can serve as a crucial input for data assimilation of oceanic GCMs. In contrast to previous versions, the GSSTF_3 is on a 0.25x0.25 degree grid, as well as involving an updated algorithm for surface air humidity retrieval. Similar to the preceding Version 2c GSSTF, a corrected/improved set of SSM/I Brightness temperatures (Tb) have been used. Basically, the artificial trends found in the original SSM/I V6 Brightness Temperatures (used for producing Version 2b GSSTF previously) due mainly to the variations/trends of Earth incidence angle (EIA) in the SSM/I satellites were genuinely removed.

1997-12/2008-11