Which satellites are primarily used to monitor sea surface temperatures?

NOAA satellites are primarily used to monitor sea surface temperatures because they are specifically designed to provide critical environmental data, which includes oceanographic information. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, operates several satellites that focus on collecting atmospheric and ocean data. The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on NOAA satellites is instrumental in measuring sea surface temperatures.

These measurements are significant for various applications, including weather forecasting, climatology, and understanding climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. While NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) also have satellites that contribute to ocean monitoring, NOAA’s satellites are dedicated to real-time environmental observation, making them the primary choice for tracking sea surface temperatures.