Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic Ocean
The accuracy and precision of satellite sea surface temperature (SST) products in nearshore coastal waters are not well known, owing to a lack of in-situ data available for validation. It has been suggested that recreational watersports enthusiasts, who immerse themselves in nearshore coastal waters...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/5/841 |
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| author | Robert J. W. Brewin Werenfrid Wimmer Philip J. Bresnahan Tyler Cyronak Andreas J. Andersson Giorgio Dall’Olmo |
| author_facet | Robert J. W. Brewin Werenfrid Wimmer Philip J. Bresnahan Tyler Cyronak Andreas J. Andersson Giorgio Dall’Olmo |
| author_sort | Robert J. W. Brewin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The accuracy and precision of satellite sea surface temperature (SST) products in nearshore coastal waters are not well known, owing to a lack of in-situ data available for validation. It has been suggested that recreational watersports enthusiasts, who immerse themselves in nearshore coastal waters, be used as a platform to improve sampling and fill this gap. One tool that has been used worldwide by surfers is the Smartfin, which contains a temperature sensor integrated into a surfboard fin. If tools such as the Smartfin are to be considered for satellite validation work, they must be carefully evaluated against state-of-the-art techniques to quantify data quality. In this study, we developed a Simple Oceanographic floating Device (SOD), designed to float on the ocean surface, and deployed it during the 28th Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT28) research cruise (September and October 2018). We attached a Smartfin to the underside of the SOD, which measured temperature at a depth of ∼0.1 m, in a manner consistent with how it collects data on a surfboard. Additional temperature sensors (an iButton and a TidbiT v2), shaded and positioned a depth of ∼1 m, were also attached to the SOD at some of the stations. Four laboratory comparisons of the SOD sensors (Smartfin, iButton and TidbiT v2) with an accurate temperature probe (±0.0043 K over a range of 273.15 to 323.15 K) were also conducted during the AMT28 voyage, over a temperature range of 290–309 K in a recirculating water bath. Mean differences (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>δ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>), referenced to the temperature probe, were removed from the iButton (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>δ</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.292</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> K) and a TidbiT v2 sensors (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>δ</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.089</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> K), but not from the Smartfin, as it was found to be in excellent agreement with the temperature probe (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>δ</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.005</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> K). The SOD was deployed for 20 min periods at 62 stations (predawn and noon) spanning 100 degrees latitude and a gradient in SST of 19 K. Simultaneous measurements of skin SST were collected using an Infrared Sea surface temperature Autonomous Radiometer (ISAR), a state-of-the-art instrument used for satellite validation. Additionally, we extracted simultaneous SST measurements, collected at slightly different depths, from an underway conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) system. Over all 62 stations, the mean difference (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>δ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>) and mean absolute difference (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>ϵ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>) between Smartfin and the underway CTD were −0.01 and 0.06 K respectively (similar results obtained from comparisons between Smartfin and iButton and Smartfin and TidbiT v2), and the <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>δ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>ϵ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> between Smartfin and ISAR were 0.09 and 0.12 K respectively. In both comparisons, statistics varied between noon and predawn stations, with differences related to environmental variability (wind speed and sea-air temperature differences) and depth of sampling. Our results add confidence to the use of Smartfin as a citizen science tool for evaluating satellite SST data, and data collected using the SOD and ISAR were shown to be useful for quantifying near-surface temperature gradients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:33:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9054ed8a53044e40a097540211690aea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:33:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-9054ed8a53044e40a097540211690aea2023-12-11T18:18:36ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-02-0113584110.3390/rs13050841Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic OceanRobert J. W. Brewin0Werenfrid Wimmer1Philip J. Bresnahan2Tyler Cyronak3Andreas J. Andersson4Giorgio Dall’Olmo5Centre for Geography and Environmental Science, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Penryn Campus, University of Exeter, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UKOcean and Earth Science, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Waterfront Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 3ZH, UKScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USAScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USAScripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USAPlymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3DH, UKThe accuracy and precision of satellite sea surface temperature (SST) products in nearshore coastal waters are not well known, owing to a lack of in-situ data available for validation. It has been suggested that recreational watersports enthusiasts, who immerse themselves in nearshore coastal waters, be used as a platform to improve sampling and fill this gap. One tool that has been used worldwide by surfers is the Smartfin, which contains a temperature sensor integrated into a surfboard fin. If tools such as the Smartfin are to be considered for satellite validation work, they must be carefully evaluated against state-of-the-art techniques to quantify data quality. In this study, we developed a Simple Oceanographic floating Device (SOD), designed to float on the ocean surface, and deployed it during the 28th Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT28) research cruise (September and October 2018). We attached a Smartfin to the underside of the SOD, which measured temperature at a depth of ∼0.1 m, in a manner consistent with how it collects data on a surfboard. Additional temperature sensors (an iButton and a TidbiT v2), shaded and positioned a depth of ∼1 m, were also attached to the SOD at some of the stations. Four laboratory comparisons of the SOD sensors (Smartfin, iButton and TidbiT v2) with an accurate temperature probe (±0.0043 K over a range of 273.15 to 323.15 K) were also conducted during the AMT28 voyage, over a temperature range of 290–309 K in a recirculating water bath. Mean differences (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>δ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>), referenced to the temperature probe, were removed from the iButton (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>δ</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.292</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> K) and a TidbiT v2 sensors (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>δ</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.089</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> K), but not from the Smartfin, as it was found to be in excellent agreement with the temperature probe (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>δ</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.005</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> K). The SOD was deployed for 20 min periods at 62 stations (predawn and noon) spanning 100 degrees latitude and a gradient in SST of 19 K. Simultaneous measurements of skin SST were collected using an Infrared Sea surface temperature Autonomous Radiometer (ISAR), a state-of-the-art instrument used for satellite validation. Additionally, we extracted simultaneous SST measurements, collected at slightly different depths, from an underway conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) system. Over all 62 stations, the mean difference (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>δ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>) and mean absolute difference (<inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>ϵ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>) between Smartfin and the underway CTD were −0.01 and 0.06 K respectively (similar results obtained from comparisons between Smartfin and iButton and Smartfin and TidbiT v2), and the <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>δ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mi>ϵ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula> between Smartfin and ISAR were 0.09 and 0.12 K respectively. In both comparisons, statistics varied between noon and predawn stations, with differences related to environmental variability (wind speed and sea-air temperature differences) and depth of sampling. Our results add confidence to the use of Smartfin as a citizen science tool for evaluating satellite SST data, and data collected using the SOD and ISAR were shown to be useful for quantifying near-surface temperature gradients.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/5/841sea surface temperatureSmartfinthermal radiometryremote sensingvalidationcitizen science |
| spellingShingle | Robert J. W. Brewin Werenfrid Wimmer Philip J. Bresnahan Tyler Cyronak Andreas J. Andersson Giorgio Dall’Olmo Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic Ocean Remote Sensing sea surface temperature Smartfin thermal radiometry remote sensing validation citizen science |
| title | Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic Ocean |
| title_full | Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic Ocean |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic Ocean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic Ocean |
| title_short | Comparison of a Smartfin with an Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Radiometer in the Atlantic Ocean |
| title_sort | comparison of a smartfin with an infrared sea surface temperature radiometer in the atlantic ocean |
| topic | sea surface temperature Smartfin thermal radiometry remote sensing validation citizen science |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/5/841 |
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