DATA = datenum('3-jan-1990 12:00'):7:datenum('20-jan-2005');
fid = fopen('fake_sst_date_file.dat','write');
fwrite(fid,DATA,'real*4');
fclose(fid);

TMIDATA = datenum('1-jan-2001 12:00'):1:datenum('31-dec-2001 12:00');
fid = fopen('fake_tmi_sst_date_file.dat','write');
fwrite(fid,TMIDATA,'real*4');
fclose(fid);

% test read
fid = fopen('fake_tmi_sst_date_file.dat','read');
a = fread(fid,'real*4');