SSTs

SSTs is an acronym with multiple meanings, depending on the context. In oceanography and meteorology, it most commonly denotes sea surface temperatures, the temperature of the ocean’s uppermost layer. The term is widely used in climate monitoring, weather forecasting, and marine science. In aviation, SSTs can refer to supersonic transports, high‑speed passenger aircraft such as the Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144, though this usage is less common in contemporary discourse.

Sea surface temperatures are measured by a combination of satellite-based infrared radiometers and in situ sensors. Satellites estimate the skin temperature of the ocean surface, providing global coverage with frequent updates, while buoys and ships measure temperatures at or near one meter depth for validation and longer-term records. Data from these sources are blended into gridded products and can be expressed as absolute temperatures or as anomalies relative to a baseline period. SST data are often integrated with wind and ocean current information for forecasting models and climate analyses.

Applications of SST information include weather prediction, tropical cyclone forecasting, and climate research. SSTs are central to monitoring phenomena such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and to assessing long-term trends related to global warming. Limitations in SST data arise from differences between skin temperature and subsurface temperatures, diurnal warming cycles, and measurement gaps near coasts or in cloudy regions, which can introduce uncertainties in certain regions and times.