MERCATOR OCEAN JOURNA: 
SEPTEMBER 2021 
2. PRESENT STATUS OF SST-TAC 
The main driver of SST-TAC system evolutions has been 
the iImprovement of global and regional processing chains 
to guarantee that CMEMS provides state-of-the-art (in 
terms of scientific quality) and consistent L3/L4 products 
for each target area and consolidated set of users. During 
Copernicus 1, the SST-TAC carried out a critical review of 
the product portfolio by: 
addressing the new requirements from users 
including requests from CMEMS MFCs), 
implementing operational iImprovements from 
-esearch and development (R&D) activities carried 
aut either within the CMEMS framework or within 
ather projects at European, national and international 
levels. 
Ither major improvements are to be noted: 
-the homogenization of the upstream data input to the 
MY REP product (now coming from ESA-CCI and C3S) 
the provision of non-interpolated merged multi- 
sensor data covering all regions (L3S, to be used for 
data assimilation), 
-the development of new iInterpolated products 
resolving the diurnal cycle. 
3. POST 2071 S' FF ECTIVES 
Post 2021 priorities are related to the different status of 
each production line, as regional and global products 
have been developed following different approaches 
and configurations, in order to account for each region 
specifically. Overall, improvements will generally lead to 
product evolutions in terms of timeliness, effective spatia: 
resolution, output frequency, update cycle and accuracy. 
The three main evolution lines include: 
-the modification and tuning of Interpolation 
algorithms to resolve more accurately small scales, 
the diurnal cycle, or other specific processes (e.g., 
coastal upwelling), 
optimization of the data offer to deliver users 
a simplified catalogue and Improved validation 
strategies, 
-the test and ingestion of any new reliable source of 
data that may improve the quality of the Copernicus 
Marine Service output products, such as new satellites 
and sensors. This concerns specifically data from 
Copernicus Programme satellites, such as the SLSTR 
data from the future Sentinel-3C and D missions, and 
high resolution microwave data from CIMR.