Sea surface temperature facts for kids
Sea surface temperature (SST) is the water temperature at the surface. In practical terms, the exact meaning of "surface" will vary according to the measurement method used. A satellite infrared radiometer indirectly measures the temperature of a very thin layer (about 10 micrometres thick) or skin of the ocean (leading to the phrase skin temperature) representing the top millimeter; a thermometer attached to an already fastened or wandering buoy in the ocean would measure the temperature at a specific depth (e.g. the top 1 meter below the sea surface); the measurements regularly made from ships are often from the engine water intakes and may be at various depths in the upper 20 m of the ocean. Note that the depth of measurement in this case will vary with the cargo aboard the vessel.
Images for kids
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Sea surface temperature on December 20, 2013 at 1-km resolution
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The 1997 El Niño observed by TOPEX/Poseidon. The white areas off the tropical coasts of South and North America indicate the pool of warm water.
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Temperature profile of the surface layer of the ocean (a) at night and (b) during the day
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2003–2011 SST based on MODIS Aqua data
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Sea-effect snow bands near the Korean Peninsula
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Seasonal peaks of tropical cyclone activity worldwide
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Average equatorial Pacific temperatures
See also
In Spanish: Temperatura de la superficie del mar para niños
