ACCURACY OF SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE ANALYSES-PART II.
Abstract
Five sea surface temperature analyses are compared with sea surface temperatures obtained by use of the airborne radiation thermometer on a detailed survey in April 1966 of the waters from Norfolk to 200 miles seaward. The charts evaluated were the daily analysis of Fleet Numerical Weather Facility (Monterey) and Fleet Weather Facility (Norfolk), a Naval Oceanographic Office 15-day composite chart and a historic chart, and the mean monthly sea surface temperature chart from the H.O. 225 Atlas of monthly sea surface temperatures. The manually prepared, subjective analysis of Fleet Weather Facility (Norfolk) was found to be most reliable with a mean absolute error of 4.3 F. Both the Naval Oceanographic Office composite analysis and historic chart showed more skill than the Atlas and Fleet Numerical Weather Facility analyses, and the former chart showed considerable details that were also observed. The results were found to agree with the conclusions drawn from the May evaluation of a similar set of five analyses as described by James (1966). (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0489638
Entities
People
- Richard W. James
Organizations
- Naval Oceanographic Office