Sea temperature charts

All of these charts display the temperature of the water at the sea surface.

This data traditionally came from direct observation (ie. using a thermometer!) with buoys and weather ships. These days, the sea surface temperature data comes almost exclusively from remote sensing, using satellites. The area a satellite scans in two minutes would take a ship travelling at 10 knots 10 years to cover.

Sea surface temperature (°C), from UK Met Office

UKMO sea temp

North Atlantic sea surface temperature, from Oceanweather

Mid Atlantic sea surface temperature, from Oceanweather

European sea surface temperatures, from Oceanor

Worldwide sea surface temperatures, from Unisys Weather

This clearly shows global phenomenon such as El Nino, and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream flowing from the US towards Europe.