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Comparison of in situ and satellite sea surface temperature data from South Australia and Tasmania: how reliable are satellite data as a proxy for coastal temperatures in temperate southern Australia?
Citation
Stobart, B and Mayfield, S and Mundy, C and Hobday, AJ and Hartog, JR, Comparison of in situ and satellite sea surface temperature data from South Australia and Tasmania: how reliable are satellite data as a proxy for coastal temperatures in temperate southern Australia?, Marine and Freshwater Research, 67, (5) pp. 612-625. ISSN 1323-1650 (2016) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Journal compilation copyright CSIRO 2016
DOI: doi:10.1071/MF14340
Abstract
Satellite sea surface temperature (SST) is widely used for biological modelling and ecological studies assuming it represents sub-surface in situ temperature (IST). We test this assumption at 32 coastal sites in southern Australia spanning a wide geographic range. Annual IST regimes are described and demonstrated to be highly correlated with SST. Mean annual deviations were generally small, varying spatially and seasonally (range 0-1ºC). No correlation between deviations and a range of site attributes was found, indicating the importance of site-specific factors. Seasonal deviations were not geographically consistent, being higher in South Australia during the summer (mean 1.4 ºC) than in Tasmania (mean 0.5 ºC). Generally small annual mean deviations between SST and IST justify using SST for broad scale ecological and climate change studies, but considerable deviations at some sites suggests using SST at smaller spatial and temporal scales is unlikely to be appropriate. In addition, SST data lack information on daily temperature fluctuation that may be biologically relevant. Excepting South Australia where spatially consistent summer deviations would allow a correction factor, this site-specific variation is hard to correct. In spite of this, studies that rely on SST should consider the implications of such variation on the level of certainty associated with temperature-based predictions.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | satellite-derived sea surface temperature, in-situ temperature, climate change, latitudinal temperature variation, temperature fluctuation |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
| Objective Group: | Fisheries - wild caught |
| Objective Field: | Fisheries - wild caught not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Mayfield, S (Dr Stephen Mayfield) |
| UTAS Author: | Mundy, C (Dr Craig Mundy) |
| UTAS Author: | Hobday, AJ (Dr Alistair Hobday) |
| ID Code: | 101804 |
| Year Published: | 2016 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 23 |
| Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
| Deposited On: | 2015-07-09 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-03 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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