Sea surface temperature

Sea surface temperature (SST) is the temperature of the ocean’s uppermost layer, measured in situ or estimated remotely. It influences exchanges of heat and moisture between ocean and atmosphere.

Air–sea interaction: The exchange of heat, moisture, momentum, and gases between the atmosphere and ocean. SST sets a boundary condition for heat and moisture moving from ocean to air.
Tropical cyclone: A rotating, organized storm that forms over tropical or subtropical oceans around a low-pressure center. Warm surface water can provide heat and moisture that help sustain cyclone intensification.
Infrared thermography: A method that estimates surface temperature from emitted infrared radiation. Satellite infrared sensors estimate the temperature of the ocean skin through clear skies.
Sea surface bulk temperature: The temperature of seawater measured a short distance below the ocean’s immediate surface. Bulk measurements may diverge from the radiometric skin temperature, especially under calm conditions.
Monsoon: A seasonal reversal in prevailing winds, often accompanied by pronounced wet and dry seasons. SST patterns in nearby oceans can alter moisture supply and monsoon circulation.
Ocean mixed layer: The near-surface ocean layer mixed by wind and waves, with relatively uniform temperature and salinity. Its depth determines how much water shares the surface’s heating and cooling.
El Niño–Southern Oscillation: A recurring climate pattern involving coupled changes in tropical Pacific ocean temperatures and atmospheric circulation. Central and eastern tropical Pacific SST anomalies help identify its phases.
Microwave radiometry: A technique that infers physical properties from naturally emitted microwave radiation. Microwave sensors can estimate SST through many clouds that block infrared observations.
Sea surface temperature analysis: A gridded estimate of SST assembled from observations and statistical or physical methods. Analyses combine irregular observations into spatially complete fields for monitoring and models.
Indian Ocean Dipole: An irregular fluctuation in the east–west gradient of tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures. Its SST gradient shifts rainfall and atmospheric circulation around the Indian Ocean.

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