Gaillard F., Diverrès Denis, Jacquin S., Gouriou Yves, Grelet Jacques, Le Menn M., Tassel J., Reverdin G. (2015). Sea surface temperature and salinity from French research vessels, 2001–2013. Scientific Data, art. 150054 [9 p.]. ISSN 2052-4463.
Titre du document
Sea surface temperature and salinity from French research vessels, 2001–2013
Année de publication
2015
Type de document
Article
Auteurs
Gaillard F., Diverrès Denis, Jacquin S., Gouriou Yves, Grelet Jacques, Le Menn M., Tassel J., Reverdin G.
French Research vessels have been collecting thermo-salinometer (TSG) data since 1999 to contribute to the Global Ocean Surface Underway Data (GOSUD) programme. The instruments are regularly calibrated and continuously monitored. Water samples are taken on a daily basis by the crew and later analysed in the laboratory. We present here the delayed mode processing of the 2001–2013 dataset and an overview of the resulting quality. Salinity measurement error was a few hundredths of a unit or less on the practical salinity scale (PSS), due to careful calibration and instrument maintenance, complemented with a rigorous adjustment on water samples. In a global comparison, these data show excellent agreement with an ARGO-based salinity gridded product. The Sea Surface Salinity and Temperature from French REsearch SHips (SSST-FRESH) dataset is very valuable for the ‘calibration and validation’ of the new satellite observations delivered by the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and Aquarius missions.
