Sea-Surface Temperature
Water temperatures at the ocean surface are constantly changing. These changes affect—and are influenced by—weather and climate worldwide. By studying satellite measurements of sea-surface temperatures, scientists are learning to detect and predict recurring weather patterns such as El Niño events, which can cause devastating droughts and floods around the world.
Long-term observation of sea-surface temperatures reveals patterns and cycles
of variation caused by seasonal winds, Earth’s rotation, and other factors.
This video shows sea-surface temperature measurements across the globe
obtained by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Moderate
Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite instruments. The
historical data, gathered by AVHRR from 1985 to 2002, are shown in
measurements of degrees Celsius. The current MODIS data (2002-2004), also in
degrees Celsius, show deviations from long-term averages.
Satellites provide scientists with a picture of what's happening daily over the entire Earth. The United States satellite measurement program for sea-surface temperature, run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has gathered global measurements daily since 1979.
Satellites provide scientists with a picture of what's happening daily over the entire Earth. The United States satellite measurement program for sea-surface temperature, run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has gathered global measurements daily since 1979.
Data Sources:
- NASA physical oceanography Web site:
http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/
- AVHRR:
http://edc.usgs.gov/products/satellite/avhrr.html
- MODIS ocean:
http://modis-ocean.gsfc.nasa.gov/