Towards fiducial Reference measUrements of Sea-Surface Temperature by European Drifters

Main objectives

The TRUSTED project contributes to the necessary infrastructure for Fiducial Reference Measurements (FRM) needed for the validation of high resolution and high accuracy satellite Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR).

This is achieved by providing measurements from a significant number of drifting buoys equipped with additional digital SST probes, to the usual design, in order to achieve a better calibrated capability. These also incorporate the most recent geo-location accuracy and position reporting and time reporting capability. Assessment of these drifting buoy SST measurements for SLSTR SST validation, will be achieved through scientific quality control within the project, and planned Sentinel-3 validation activities.

At the end of 2021, the project was extended for a period of 3 years, in order to feed the network with another 75 SVPs intended, in part, for cold seas. In addition, the design of a buoy for iced seas (iSVP) is envisaged. Placed on the ice floe, it should make it possible to measure the temperature gradients between the air and the snow cover, in order to validate the measurements made by the satellites with greater accuracy.

Shom's role

For the whole project, the role of the Shom is to calibrate (i.e. to ensure the connection to the International System of Units) the so-called 'high resolution' temperature sensors that equip the SVP and to validate the buoys as a whole before their deployment. The Shom participated in the development and sea trials of the first two prototypes. It is also participating in the definition of the iSVP prototype, for which it will also be responsible for the calibration and the validation.

Duration

36 months - 29/01/2018 to 29/01/2021 then 27 months - 09/03/2022 to 09/06/2024

Funding programme

    Project funded by the European Commission

    within the Copernicus programme.

Partnership

The project is overseen by the company CLS (France). The consortium involves 7 partners: CLS, EUMETSAT, OceanOps, Shom, nke instrumentation, Météo France, BSH (Allemagne).

Contact

Metrology and ocean chemistry laboratory