Sst

SST is an acronym that can refer to several terms in science, technology, and aviation. The two most common meanings are Sea Surface Temperature and Supersonic Transport.

Sea Surface Temperature (SST) refers to the temperature of the ocean’s surface layer. In practice, SST is defined as the uppermost portion of the water column, with measurements ranging from the skin layer (captured by infrared satellite sensors) to the bulk of the upper several meters (measured by ships and buoys). SST is a key climate and weather variable, influencing energy exchange with the atmosphere, tropical cyclone development, and marine ecosystems. SST data are used to monitor phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña, forecast rainfall and drought, and assess fisheries productivity. Satellites from missions like AVHRR and MODIS provide wide-area SST maps, while in-situ observations supply localized measurements for calibration and validation.

Supersonic Transport (SST) denotes aircraft designed to fly faster than the speed of sound. The best-known examples are the Concorde and the Soviet Tupolev Tu-144. Introduced in the late 20th century, SST aircraft could significantly shorten long-haul flight times by cruising at speeds above Mach 2 at high altitudes. Economic factors, high fuel consumption, and environmental concerns such as sonic booms over land limited their commercial viability, leading to the retirement of Concorde in 2003 and only limited later use of other designs. Ongoing research generally focuses on reducing sonic booms and improving efficiency, but no passenger SST is in regular service as of the present.

Context is important because SST can refer to other terms in different fields; clarification is typically needed.