A Better Global Thermometer

World - Continents

A new sensor orbiting the Earth aboard NASAs satellite is now collecting the most detailed measurements ever made of the seas surface temperature every day all over the globe. Like a sophisticated thermometer in space, the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is helping Earth scientists advance studies of how our worlds oceans and atmosphere interact in ways that drive weather patterns and, over the long term, define our climate. The image above shows cold water upwelling near the coast of Peru (purple) and joining the South Equatorial Current, which flows westward across the Pacific Ocean. This MODIS sea surface temperature image from January 1–8, 2001 shows the ocean in normal conditions, but during an El Niño the waters off Peru are much warmer. Cold waters are black and dark green. Blue, purple, red, yellow, and white represent progressively warmer water. For more information, high-res images, and animations, see: Terra Measures Sea Surface Temperature with Unprecedented Detail.
Source: Image by Jesse Allen, based on data provided by the MODIS OCEAN Team and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Remote Sensing Group

World - Categories of Maps

A Better Global Thermometer - Related Maps

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World monthly mean temperature 2009	Antarctic surface temperature in winter and summer 1979-2001	CO2 emissions in the World
Arctic annual mean sea surface temperature	Sea surface temperature in the Caribbean, August 2005	Speed of ice streams in Antarctica
Climate zones of the world 2009	Antarctica warming trend	Major ocean currents
Climate change vulnerability in Africa	Ocean currents and sea ice 1943	Ocean currents and sea ice 1943

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World - Continents

Africa	Asia	Central America and the Caribbean
Europe	Middle East	North America
South America