Update Message Service #3170 : Minor update in Geo SST products

Dear User,

There has been a modification on the date concerning the update in the SST products listed below. Previously annonced on January the 30th, it is reported on the February the 3rd around 10:00Z.

•  RTTOV version 13 will be used in the processing of SST, instead of RTTOV version 11
•  AOD from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) will be used instead of the AOD from NAAPS (US navy) to estimate the aerosol contamination and to fill the auxiliary field on aerosols.

The pixel quality level of SST is degraded when the pixel is contaminated by dust aerosols. The information about aerosols comes either from the Saharan Dust Index (SDI) calculated from the Meteosat 0° coverage area or from the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD).
Moreover, to be compliant with the GHRSST Data Specification (GDS), OSI SAF SST products include a number of auxiliary fields, including an estimate of atmospheric aerosol (aerosol_dyanamic_indicator), filled with the AOD.
 
We expect the impact to be minor.
 
The Product User Manual and the Algorithms Theoretical Basis Document will be updated accordingly. You will find them on the product pages listed below.