Sea temperature charts

What are they ?

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.

North Atlantic sea surface temperature, from Oceanweather

Mid Atlantic sea surface temperature, from Oceanweather

Sea surface temperatures across the NE Atlantic and North Sea, from the UK Met Office

European sea surface temperatures

Worldwide sea temperatures

These are big images but are so detailed that you can clearly see global phenomenon such as El Nino, and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream flowing from the US towards Europe.