Algorithm for estimating sea surface temperatures based on Aqua/MODIS global ocean data. 2. Automated quality check process for eliminating cloud contamination

This study developed a post-processing quality check (QC) process to eliminate cloud contamination in infrared sea surface temperature (SST) without manual handling. Cloudiness of a pixel was evaluated quantitatively, in which the graduated verifications and a comprehensive decision from a combination of several tests were conducted. Additionally, the quality of SST data at the pixel was measured by acceptable limits from reference SST, which were obtained from historical data. The QC processed data showed good accuracy below 0. 8°C, even in the near-cloud area. Before the QC, their accuracies including near-cloud areas were as poor as 2-5°C.