Sea surface temperature (SST) is the temperature of the ocean’s uppermost layer, typically measured within the top millimeter to several meters, depending on instrumentation and protocol. It is a fundamental variable in physical oceanography and climate science, governing air–sea heat fluxes, evaporation, and the development of atmospheric circulation patterns. SST strongly influences ocean stratification, mixed-layer dynamics, and the formation of phenomena such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation. It is observed using in situ sensors (buoys, ships, Argo floats) and satellite radiometers, with careful corrections for skin versus bulk temperature, diurnal warming, and instrumental biases to support climate monitoring and coupled model validation.
Researchers have long known that there is an asymmetry in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the confluence of wind and water currents that creates warm El Niño events and cooler La Niña events. Large-scale climate ...
Earth Sciences
12 hours ago
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The world's oceans are the hottest on record for June, pushing past records set during the 2023–24 El Niño years.
Environment
Jul 5, 2026
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Every summer, communities across northern Australia brace for the tropical cyclone season. Tropical cyclones draw their power from the warm seas, extracting heat and moisture from ocean water.
Earth Sciences
Jul 3, 2026
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This image shows the sea surface temperature anomaly detected in the Mediterranean Sea on June 29, 2026, compared with the average for the period 1991–2020, with dark red indicating temperatures that exceed the average by ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 2, 2026
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The world's oceans just experienced their hottest June on record and could set fresh highs in the months ahead as El Nino and climate change drive temperatures even higher, scientists said Wednesday.
Environment
Jul 1, 2026
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A marine heat wave has undermined the success of seagrass restoration efforts at a site in north Wales, new research has found. More than 1.1 million seagrass seeds were planted at sites in two bays in north Wales between ...
Environment
Jun 26, 2026
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El Niño, characterized by warmer-than-normal water temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific, made its return in June 2026. Observations of sea surface height from the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite that month ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 21, 2026
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In recent years, marine heat waves have been taking an ever-greater toll on the world's oceans and their ecosystems. Amplified by increasing global warming, these events are occurring more frequently and lasting longer. The ...
Environment
Jun 21, 2026
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70
Marine heat waves (MHWs) are events characterized by prolonged warm coastal and ocean conditions with wide-ranging impacts on ecosystem health and associated industries. While research on MHWs has historically relied on surface-water ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 16, 2026
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It's official: El Niño is back. By late fall 2026, forecast models give a 2-in-3 chance of a strong-to-very-strong El Niño affecting the weather, climate and ocean temperatures across the planet.
Environment
Jun 15, 2026
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