Changes in sea surface temperature from year 2005 to 2009 in Terengganu waters using modis

Abstract

The study on sea surface temperature (SST) is very important in Terengganu due to the presence of marine parks in its waters. Any drastic changes of SST will affect coral reefs in the area. The objectives of this study is to determine the SST changes from 2005 to 2009 in Terengganu waters using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and to determine the relationship between in situ SST measurement and MODIS SST. From this study, 60 scenes of MODIS monthly SST maps from 2005 to 2009 were analyzed. In situ SST measurements were used as comparison to the MODIS Level 3 data. The study was conducted at 32 sampling stations from Pulau Kapas to Pulau Perhentian waters for in situ sampling in May and July 2009. The study observed no dramatic changes in SST from 2005 to 2009. The 2009 SST was found to be warmer than mean SST while SST 2008 was found to be cooler with 0.26 °C and -0.13 °C difference respectively. The range of MOD IS SST in 2005 is between 27 .05 °C to 31.57 °C; 26.33 °C to 31.56 °C in 2006; 26.42 °C to 32.25 °C in 2007; 24.88 °C to 31.51 °C in 2008 and between 25.68 °C to 32.09 °C in 2009. The comparison between Level 3 MODIS SST and in-situ measurement revealed the average difference of 0.92°C in May and 1.10°C in July. MOD IS Level 3 SST was found to be warmer than in situ measurement. This study demonstrated that MODIS Level 3 data from Terra satellite can successfully be used to obtain SST in Terengganu waters.