ARCSS Surface Air Temperature (ARCSS-SAT) Analysis, Version 1.0

This data set contains the analysis of the best estimate of surface air temperature (SAT) over the Arctic Ocean in 12-hourly gridded fields from 1979-2008. The gridded fields are based on in situ observations from manned drifting stations, and buoy observations that have been quality controlled. These observations have been optimally interpolated, following the procedures of Rigor et al. 2000, using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) Reanalysis 1 (R1) as a first guess field. The analysis adjusts a warm bias exhibited by R1 in comparison to manned drifting station data over the Arctic Ocean, and improves the International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP) / Polar Exchange at the Sea Surface (POLES) SAT analysis. This data set is preliminary pending review of manuscript documenting the analysis.