BS, Physics, University of Miami, with honors (1980)
MS, Oceanography, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island (1983)
PHD, Geological Sciences, University of Southern California (1991)
Professional Experience
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1993-present)
Project Science Lead for Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Salinity for the Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center(2002-Present)
Research on the validation of satellite derived sea surface temperature products (1995-2002)
Principal Investigator for NOAA/NASA AVHRR Oceans Pathfinder Sea Surface Temperature Project. (1995)
NASA representative to the Advisory Council for the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST). CEOS COVERAGE NASA Team (1993-2002)
Visiting Scientist, Institute of Marine Science, Barcelona, Spain. Spanish Grant to apply remote sensing techniques to study the Mediterranean (1993)
Guest Editor for Deep Sea Research for special edition on Satellite Oceanography and Climate change
Guest Editor for Remote Sensing for Special Edition on Sea Surface Temperature Retrievals for satellites
Editor Remote Sensing
Research Interests
Applying High Resolution Remote Sensing Data to Coastal Studies
Validation of satellite derived sea surface temperature data sets
Development and analysis of climate data records
Statistical Modeling of remote sensing data
Improvement in quality of sea surface temperature data records
Selected Awards
Voyager Award for Support of Sea Surface Temperature Products
NASA MANNED FLIGHT AWARENESS PROGRAM in recognition of excellence and support of the NASA manned space program and its mission payloads.
Who's Who in Science and Engineering
NASA Group Achievement Award for implementation of the Global Data Assembly Center
National Ocean Partnership Award for Excellence
NASA Group Achievement Award for the Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center.
National Ocean Partnership Award for excellence supporting joint programs between NASA and NOAA.
Selected Publications
Vazquez-Cuervo, J.; Gentemann, C.; Tang, W.; Carroll, D.; Zhang, H.; Menemenlis, D.; Gomez-Valdes, J.; Bouali, M.; Steele, M., Using Saildrones to Validate Arctic Sea-Surface Salinity from the SMAP Satellite and from Ocean Models. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 831. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13050831
Vazquez-Cuervo, J.; Gomez-Valdes, J.; Bouali, M.; Miranda, L.E.; Van der Stocken, T.; Tang, W.; Gentemann, C., Using Saildrones to Validate Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Salinity and Sea Surface Temperature along the California/Baja Coast. Remote Sens. 2019, 11, 1964. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11171964
Bouali, M.; Polito, P. S.; Sato, O. T.; Vazquez-Cuervo, J. The impact of cloud masking on the climatology of sea surface temperature gradients, Remote Sensing Letters, 2020, 11 (12) : 11 1110-111
Minnett, PJ.; Kilpatrick, KA.; Podesta, GP; Evans, RH; Szczodrak, MD, Malgorzata D.); Izaguirre, MA , Miguel Angel; Williams, EJ (Williams, Elizabeth J.; Walsh, S; Reynolds, RM, Michael; Bailey, SW (Bailey, Sean W.; Armstrong, EM ; Vazquez-Cuervo, J, Skin Sea-Surface Temperature from VIIRS on Suomi-NPP-NASA Continuity Retrievals, Remote Sensing, 2020, 12 (20).
Gentemann, CL; Scott, JP; Mazzini, PLF; Pianca, C; Akella, S; Minnett, PJ; Cornillion, P; Fox-Kemper, B; Cetinic, I; Chin, TM; Gomez-Valdes, J; Vazquez-Cuervo, J; Tsontos, V;Yu, LS; Jenkins, R; De Halleux, S; Peacock, D; Cohen, N, Saildrone Adaptively Sampling the Marine Environment, 2020, Bulletin of the American Meterological Society, 101(6) E744-E762, DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0015.1.
Vazquez-Cuervo, J; Gomez-Valdes, J.; Bouali, M.; Miranda, L.E.; Van der Stocken, T.; Tang, W.; Gentemann, C. Using Saildrones to Validate Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Salinity and Sea Surface Temperature along the California/Baja Coast. Remote Sens. 2019, 11, 1964. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11171964
Bouali, M., P.S. Polito, OT Sato and J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 2019, On the use of NLSST and MCSST for the study of spatio-temporal trenin SST gradients, Remote Sensing Letters, 10 (12), 1163-1171, DOI: 10.1080/2150704X.2019.1666312.
Salat, J., J. Pascual, M. Flexas, T. M. Chin, and J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 2019, Forty-five years of oceanographic and meteorological observations at a coastal station in the NW Mediterranean: a ground truth for satellite observations, Ocean Dynamics, 69 (9), 1067-1084, DOI: 10.1007/s10236-019-01285-z.
O'Carroll, A. G. , E. M. Armstrong, H. M. Beggs, M. Bouali, K. S. Casey, G. K. Corlett, P. Dash, C. J. Donlon , C. L. Gentemann, J. L. Hoyer, A. Ignatov, K. Kabobah, M. Kachi,Y. Kurihara, J. Karagali, E. Maturi, C. J. Merchant, S. Marullo, P. J. Minnett, M. Pennybacker, B. Ramakrishnan, R. Santoleri, S. Sunder, S. S. Picart, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, W. Wimmer, 2019, Observational Needs of Sea Surface Temperature, 6, DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00420.
Fournier, S., Reager, B. Dzwonkosk, B. and J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 2019, Statistical Mapping of Freshwater Origin and Fate Signatures as Land/Ocean "Regions of Influence" in the Gulf of Mexico, Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, 124 (7), 4954-4973, DOI: 10.1029/2018JC014784.
Vazquez-Cuervo, J., J. Gomez-Valdes, M. Bouali, L. E. Miranda, T. Van der Stocken, W. Tang, and C. Gentemann, 2019, Using Saildrones to Validate Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Salinity and Sea Surface Temperature along the California/Baja Coast, Remote Sensing, 11(17), https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11171964
Minnet, P. J., A. Alvera-Azacarate, T. M. Chin, G. K. Corlett, C. L. Gentemann, I. Karagali X, Li, A. Marouin, S. Marullo, S. S. Picart, M. Steele, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 2019, Half a century of satellite remote sensing of sea-surface temperature, Remote Sensing of the Environment, 233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.111366
Vazquez-Cuervo, J. and J. Gomez-Valdes, 2018, SMAP and CalCOFI Observe Freshening during the 2014-2016 Northeast Pacific Warm Anomaly, Remote Sensing, 10 (11), DOI: 10.3390/rs10111716.
Vazquez-Cuervo, J., S. Fournier, B. Dzwonkowski and J. T. Reager, 2018, Intercomparison of In-Situ and Remote Sensing Salinity Products in the Gulf of Mexico, a River-Influenced System, Remote Sensing, 10 (10), DOI: 10.3390/rs10101590.
Chin, T. M., Vazquez-Cuervo, J. and E. M. Armstrong, 2017, A multi-scale high-resolution analysis of global sea surface temperature, Remote Sensing of Environment, 200, 154-169, DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2017.07.029.
Relationship between SST gradients and upwelling off Peru and Chile: Model/Satellite Data Analysis, J.Vazquez-Cuervo, B. Dewitte, H. Torres, D. Menemenlis, T.M. Chin, E.M. Armstrong, 2017, International Journal of Remote Sensing. 38 (23), 6599-6622, doi: 10.1080/01431161.2017.1362130.
Evaluation of the Multi-Scale Ultra-High Resolution (MUR) Analysis of Lake Surface Temperature, E. Crosman, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 2017, T. M. Chin 9, (7), doi: 10.3390/rs9070723.
Evaluation of the Multi-Scale Ultra-High Resolution (MUR) Analysis of Lake Surface Temperature, E. Crosman, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, E. M. Armstrong, Remote Sensing of Environment, 200, 154-169, doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2017.07.029.
Sensitivity of Ocean Surface Salinity Measurements From Spaceborne L-Band Radiometers to Ancillary Sea Surface Temperature, T. F. Meissner, Wentz, J. Scott, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 2016, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON GEOSCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING, 54, (12), 7105-7111, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2016.2596100.
SMAP observes flooding from land to sea: The Texas event of 2015, S. Fournier, S., J. T. Reager, T. Lee, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, C. H. David, M. M. Geirach, 2016, Geophysical Research Letters, 43, (19),10338-10346, doi: 10.1002/2016GL070821.
On "Gridless" Interpolation and Subgrid Data Density, T. M, Chin, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, E. M. Armstrong, 2014, Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 31, (7),1642-1652, doi: 10.1175/JTECH-D-13-00219.1
Gierach, M., J. Vazquez-Cuervo, T. Lee, and V. Tsontos, 2013: Aquarius and SMOS detect effects of an extreme Mississippi river, Q1 flooding event in the Gulf of Mexico, accepted Geophysical Research Letters.
Vazquez-Cuervo, J., B. Dewitte, T. M. Chin, E. M. Armstrong, S. Purca, and E. Alburqueque. 2013. An Analysis of SST Gradients off the Peruvian Coast: The impact of going to higher resolution. Remote Sensing of the Environment, 131, 76-84. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2012.12.010.
Armstrong, E. M., G. Wagner, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, T. M. Chin, 2012: Comparisons of regional satellite sea surface temperature gradients derived from MODIS and AVHRR sensors, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 33:21, 6639-665.
Garcia-Soto, C. J. Vazquez-Cuervo, P. Clemente-Colon, and F. Hernandez, Satellite Oceanography and Climate Change: Introduction to Special Issue as Guest Editor, 2012: Deep Sea Research Part II: Satellite Oceanography and Climate Change, 77-80, 1-9.
Dash, P., A. Ignatov, M. Martin, C. Donlon, B. Brasnett, R. W. Reynolds, V. Banzon, H. Beggs, J.-F. Cayula, Y. Chao, R. Grumbin, E. Maturi, A. Harris, J. Mittaz, J. Sapper, T. M. Chin, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, E.M. Armstrong, C. Gentemann, J. Cummings, J-F Piolle, E. Autret, J. Roberts-Jones, S Ishizaki, J. L. Hoyer, and D. Poulter, Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST) analysis fields inter-comparisons-Part 2 Near Real Time web-based level 4 quality monitor (SQUAM), 2012: Deep Sea Research Part II: Satellite Oceanography and Climate Change, 77-80, 31-43.
Dewitte, B. J.Vazquez-Cuervo, K.Goubanova, S.Illig, K.Takahashi, G.Cambon, S.Purca, D. Correa, D.Gutierrez, A.Sifeddine, L.Ortlieb, Change in El Nino flavours over 1958–2008: Implications for the long-term trend of the upwelling off Peru, 2012: Deep Sea Research Part II: Satellite Oceanography and Climate Change, 77-80, 143-156.
Vazquez-Cuervo, J., E. M. Armstrong, K. S. Casey, R. Evans, K. Kilpatrick, 2010: Comparison between the Pathfinder Versions 5.0 and 4.1 Sea Surface Temperature Datasets: A Case Study for High Resolution. J. Climate, 23, 1047–1059.
Freeman A, V. Zlotnicki, T. Liu, B. Holt, R. Kwok, S. Yueh, J. Vazquez-Cuervo, D. Siege, G. Lagerloef,2010. Ocean Measurements from Space in 2025, Oceanography, 23 (4).
Donlon C. J. , K. S . Casey, I. S . Robinson , C. L . Gentemann , R. W. Reynolds , I. Barton , O. Arino , J. Stark, N. Rayner , P. LeBorgne , D. Poulter , J. Vazquez-Cuervo, E. Armstrong , H. Beggs , D. Llewellyn- Jones , P. J . Minnett, C. J . Merchant, and R. Evans. 2009: The GODAE High-Resolution Sea Surface Temperature Pilot Project, Oceanography, 22 (3).
Vazquez-Cuervo, J., E. Armstrong, K. Casey, R. Evans, and K. Kilpatrick, 2009: A Comparison between Version 5 and Version 4.1 of the Pathfinder Sea Surface Temperature Data Sets, “A Case Study for High Resolution, Accepted to Journal of Climate.
Donlon, C., I. Robinson, K Casey, J Vazquez-Cuervo, E. Armstrong, O Arino, C Gentemann, D May, P. Le Borgne, J Piolle, I Barton, H Beggs, D. J. S. Poulter, C. J. Merchant, A. Bingham, S Heinz, A Harris, G Wick, B Emery, P Minnett, R Evans, D Lellewylln-Jones, C. Mutlow, R. Reynolds, H. Kawamura, and N. Raynor, in press Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 2007: The Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature Pilot Project, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
Vazquez-Cuervo, J. and E. Armstrong, A. Harris, 2004: The Effect of Aerosols and Clouds on the Retrieval of Infrared Sea Surface Temperatures, Journal of Climate, (11), 3921-3933.
Armstrong, E. M. and J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 2001: A New Global Satellite-Based Sea Surface Temperature Climatology, Geophysical Research Letters, 28 (22), 4199-4202.
Vazquez-Cuervo, J., and R. Sumgaysay, 2001: "Comparisons of SSTs as derived from the European Remote Sensing Satellite and the NOAA/NASA AVHRR Oceans Pathfinder Data Set", Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 82 (5), 925-944.
Garcia-Gorriz, E., J. Vazquez, 1999: Ocean-Atmosphere Coupling in the Mediterranean, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 20 (11).
Viudez, A., Haney, B. and J. Vazquez-Cuervo, 1999: The deflection of baroclinic jets near the coast: A Case Study in the Alboran Sea, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 28 (2).
Bouzinac, C., J. Vazquez, C. Millot and J. Font, 1998: CEOF Analysis of ERS-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon Combined Altimetric Data in the Region of the Algerian Current, Journal of Geophysical research.
Vazquez, J., Font, J., and Martinez-Benjamin, J.J., 1996: Observations on the circulation in the Alboran Sea using ERS1 altimetry and AVHRR data, Journal of Physical Oceanography.
Smith, E. A., J., Vazquez, A. Van Tran, and R. Sumagaysay, 1995: A Satellite-Derived Sea Sea Surface Temperature Data Set for Global Studies from the NOAA/NASA Pathfinder Program, EOS.
Vazquez, J., A V. Tran, R. Sumagaysay, E. Smith, S. Digby, and K. Perry, 1994, NOAA/NASA AVHRR Oceans Pathfinder Sea Surface Temperature Data Set User's Handbook.