Further Exploring and Quantifying Uncertainties for Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) Version 4 (v4)

AbstractThe uncertainty in Extended Reconstructed SST (ERSST) version 4 (v4) is reassessed based upon 1) reconstruction uncertainties and 2) an extended exploration of parametric uncertainties. The reconstruction uncertainty (Ur) results from using a truncated (130) set of empirical orthogonal teleconnection functions (EOTs), which yields an inevitable loss of information content, primarily at a local level. The Ur is assessed based upon 32 ensemble ERSST.v4 analyses with the spatially complete monthly Optimum Interpolation SST product. The parametric uncertainty (Up) results from using different parameter values in quality control, bias adjustments, and EOT definition etc. The Up is assessed using a 1000-member ensemble ERSST.v4 analysis with different combinations of plausible settings of 24 identified internal parameter values. At the scale of an individual grid box, the SST uncertainty varies between 0.3° and 0.7°C and arises from both Ur and Up. On the global scale, the SST uncertainty is substantial...