Sea surface temperature (SST) data carries a wealth of detail about the state of our oceans and climate system. A wide range of infrared sensors on board orbiting satellites continuously supply highly detailed measurements of SST, helping us to build a global picture of how oceans operate and where regions are warming or cooling. SST plays a key role in determining the formation of major weather systems, such as hurricanes and the El Niño climate phenomenon. El Niño is often first identified through measurements of SST. Sea surface temperature measurements are therefore absolutely instrumental to the success of our weather and climate prediction systems.

In this video, Professor Chris Merchant explores the patterns apparent in both global and regional SST data, and explains how these highly accurate measures are derived from the thermal infrared measurements made by satellite sensors such as the Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) carried by the European ENVISAT satellite, and the AVHRR carried mainly by US satellite missions.

Featured Experts:

• Professor Chris Merchant

Optional Further Reading:

• ESA - El Niño An overview of El Niño and how satellites can be used to track the phenomenon.

• ESA - Sea Surface Temperature (SST) An overview of the role SST plays in the climate system ans how to monitor it from Space.

View featured satellites on the satellite tracking app

• Envisat

Don’t forget you can download the video, transcript and take any quizzes available with the links on the right.