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.
In order to understand currents, tides and other ocean dynamics, scientists need to accurately capture sea surface height, or a snapshot of the ocean's surface, including peaks and valleys due to changes in wind, currents ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 9, 2026
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The June 2023 heat wave in northern European seas was "unprecedented but not unexpected," new research shows.
Earth Sciences
Oct 7, 2025
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Temperatures in the Mediterranean are currently rising to record levels. Instead of a refreshing dip, holidaymakers in places like Greece, Italy, and Spain, among other places, are now facing water temperatures up to 28° ...
Environment
Sep 5, 2025
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73
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest interannual variability signal in Earth's climate system. The shifts between its warm and cold phases profoundly impact global extreme weather, ecosystems, and economic ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 4, 2025
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26
When Murat Draman went scuba diving off the coast of the southern Turkish province of Antalya and saw the temperature in the depths was pushing 30C, it didn't surprise him.
Environment
Aug 15, 2025
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A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports reveals a surprising discovery in the fight against one of the most destructive coral diseases in the Atlantic and Caribbean: high sea surface temperatures may slow ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 15, 2025
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55
Researchers have measured toxins in scat samples from 205 bowhead whales from the Beaufort Sea, collected over 19 years, and found that algal toxin concentrations changed with ocean temperatures, the amount of water that ...
Ecology
Jul 10, 2025
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28
Every summer, typhoons threatening the Korean Peninsula draw their energy from the warm waters of the Northwest Pacific Ocean. In recent years, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events—such as heat waves, droughts, ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 26, 2025
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31
Global heating persisted as the new norm, with last month the second warmest May on record on land and in the oceans, according to the European Union's climate monitoring service.
Environment
Jun 12, 2025
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59
A marine heat wave has been building in the ocean surrounding the UK during an exceptionally warm and dry spring. In other words, the sea surface temperature has been within the top 10% of records for each day of the year ...
Environment
May 28, 2025
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