Towards a bias correction of the AVHRR Pathfinder SST data from 1985 to 1998 using ATSR

► Sea surface temperatures from (A)ATSR and AVHRR have been combined. ► AVHRR SSTs have been bias corrected with aerosol optical depth data from TOMS. ► Work towards a bias corrected AVHRR dataset with uncertainties. ► The bias correction reduces the observed cool bias in the AVHRR SSTs. ► The scheme is especially effective following high atmospheric volcanic aerosol events.