The measurement of sea-surface temperature in the presence of aerosol contamination with the Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR)

Sea surface temperature (SST) retrievals obtained from the Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR), now flying on ESA´s ERS-1 satellite, can determine global SST to within 0.5 K. However both stratospheric and tropospheric aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere significantly increase infrared signal attenuation and scattering and prevent the accurate retrieval of satellite SSTs. An analysis of data is being carried out for the period of aerosol contamination caused by the volcanic eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991. The unique dual view of ATSR allows the same area of the Earth´s surface to be viewed through two different atmospheric paths. From modelling of the atmospheric transmittance, it is has been shown that the difference between the dual and single view is an indication of the presence of atmospheric aerosol. A preliminary analysis of the results from ATSR are consistent with the known motion of the stratospheric aerosol particles from this event which quickly encircled the earth and gradually spread poleward. Data also show other aerosol motions such as those in the troposphere from the Sahara