Flying thermometers

Some satellites carry instruments that provide measurements of the surface temperature of oceans and seas – like a thermometer in the sky. Scientists met recently to review data from new satellite missions and scientific progress in the field.

Measuring the sea-surface temperature (SST) across regional and global scales is important for improving weather and ocean forecasting and climate change research.

Satellites provide a consistent and global view of SST at high resolution.

Combining measurements from multiple satellites is a powerful approach. For example, ESA’s Medspiration project provides merged SST maps using data from complementary infrared and passive microwave satellite instruments to map SST dynamics in the Mediterranean (see above animation).