No IR satellite SST observations during sea ice minimum demonstrates the need for CIMR.
Figures show: Warm SST anomalies (wrt to 1985-2003 climatology) in the Arctic Ocean September 23rd, 2018, associated with the late sea ice freezeup.
Also shown is the combined IR satellite coverage from 4 satellites: Sentinel 3A, Metop_B, VIIRS_NPP and NOAA AVHRR as seen in Copernicus CMEMS operational data stream.
Large gaps in SST coverage demonstrates the need for Copernicus Microwave Imaging Radiometer (CIMR).