Sea-surface temperature

Sea-surface temperatures from Envisat’s radiometer and the track of measurements taken from a radiometer on a ship sailing around the UK and across the Atlantic Ocean. Considered an ‘essential climate variable’, measurements of sea-surface temperature are important for understanding how the oceans exchange heat, gas and energy with the atmosphere. Long-term, accurate measurements that are stable over time are, therefore, fundamental for climate-change research. Measurements taken from ships are used to validate the measurements taken from satellites. This is part of the preparatory activities for the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer on the upcoming Sentinel-3 mission.