Enhancing ship of opportunity sea surface temperature observations in the Australian region

As part of the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), hull-contact temperature sensors have been installed on six commercial vessels. Near real-time, quality controlled, sea surface temperature (SST) measurements from these sensors, and thermistors located in water intakes on nine research and commercial vessels traversing waters around Australia, are now available via the Global Telecommunications System. Comparisons with satellite SST observations indicate that the hull-contact temperature sensors and research vessels produce SST data with comparable uncertainties to those available from data buoys in the same region. These IMOS ship SST data will benefit the validation of satellite SST products and analyses, and validation of ocean general circulation models, over regions lacking in buoy observations, such as coastal areas and the Southern Ocean.