Minimization of atmospheric water vapor and surface emittance effects on remotely sensed sea-surface temperatures

A study has been carried out using tine-by-line simulations of AVHRR/2 data at 11- and 12-μm wavelengths to ascertain bow accurately the sea surface temperature (SST) can be inferred by multichannel techniques for a wide range of different atmospheric conditions. Both atmospheric water vapor and surface emittance have been considered in order to achieve a high degree of accuracy in SST remote sensing; their effects can be separated and assessed when the total water vapor amount is independently known. A method of minimization of both the effects is also presented when the split window technique (SWT), which produces an SST estimate based only on radiometric measurements, is applied.