EO·Atlas
Sea-surface temperature retrieval
Retrieves ocean skin or subskin temperature from calibrated thermal-infrared split-window radiances, with passive-microwave radiometry providing coarser all-weather SST continuity.
Sea-surface temperature retrieval estimates the temperature of the ocean surface from calibrated radiance, not land emissivity. The high-resolution operational route is thermal-infrared split-window retrieval under clear sky; microwave SST retrieval supplies lower-resolution, cloud-penetrating continuity for all-weather ocean analyses.[1][2] It is first-choice for SST mapping but should not be reused as a land-surface-temperature method because ocean emissivity, skin-depth, validation, and cloud-screening assumptions differ.
- MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)
via Aqua
MODIS has a documented thermal-infrared SST retrieval.
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E)
via Aqua
AMSR-E is a passive-microwave SST-capable radiometer for cloudy/all-weather ocean continuity.
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2)
via GCOM-W1 (Shizuku)
AMSR2 is a passive-microwave SST-capable radiometer for cloudy/all-weather ocean continuity.
- OceanTech R&D
OceanTech R&D uses satellite-derived sea surface temperature as an early-warning indicator for coral bleaching events, integrated alongside field sensor temperature data.
- Marmoris Coastal Ecosystem Insights
Retrieves surface temperature and spectral emissivity from TIR radiance measurements; good for urban heat islands, drought stress monitoring, and surface energy balance studies.
- [1]Sea Surface Temperatureagency doc2026-06-08
- [2]MODIS Infrared Sea Surface Temperature Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documentagency doc2026-06-08
Edited from public sources. Last reviewed date pending by SpectraWorks editorial. See the data dictionary for field definitions.