Sea surface temperature (Q986)
Subject, term, tag: Sea surface temperature
- Sea surface temperature (SST)
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Sea surface temperature |
Subject, term, tag: Sea surface temperature |
|
Statements
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026
The subsurface bulk temperature in the top few metres of the ocean, measured by ships, buoys and drifters. From ships, measurements of water samples in buckets were mostly switched in the 1940s to samples from engine intake water. Satellite measurements of skin temperature (uppermost layer; a fraction of a millimetre thick) in the infrared or the top centimetre or so in the microwave are also used, but must be adjusted to be compatible with the bulk temperature. (English)
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026