Variations of SST around Korea inferred from NOAA AVHRR data

The NOAA AVHRR remote sense SST data, collected by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), are analyzed in order to understand the spatial and temporal distributions of SST in the seas adjacent to Korea. Our study is based on 10-day SST images during last 7 years (1991-1997). For a time series analysis of multiple 557 images, all of images must be aligned exactly at the same position by adjusting the scales and positions of each SST image. We devised an algorithm which yields automatic detections of cloud pixels from multiple SST images. The cloud detection algorithm is based on a physical constraint that SST anomalies in the ocean do not exceed certain limits (we used $\pm$ 3$^{\circ}C$ as a criterion of SST anomalies). The remote sense SST data are tuned by comparing remote sense data with observed SST at coastal stations. Seasonal variations of SST are studied by harmonic fit of SST normals at each pixel. The SST anomalies are studied by statistical method. We found that the SST anomalies are rather persistent with time scales between 1 and 2 months. Utilizing the persistency of SST anomalies, we devised an algorithm for a prediction of future SST Model fit of SST anomalies to the Markov process model yields that autoregression coefficients of SST anomalies during a time elapse of 10 days are between 0.5 and 0.7. We plan to improve our algorithms of automatic cloud pixel detection and prediction of future SST. Our algorithm is expected to be incorporated to the operational real time service of SST around Korea.