Sea surface temperature (SST) is a critical quantity in the study of both t
he ocean and the atmosphere as it is directly related to and often dictates
the exchanges of heat, momentum, and gases between the ocean and the atmos
phere. As the most widely observed variable in oceanography, SST is used in
many different studies of the ocean and its coupling with the atmosphere.
The history of this measurement and how this history led to today's practic
e of computing SST by regressing satellite infrared measurements against in
situ SST observations made by drifting/moored buoys and ships are examined
. The fundamental differences between satellite and in situ SST are discuss
ed and recommendations are made for how both data streams should be handled
. A comprehensive in situ validation/calibration plan is proposed for the s
atellite SSTs and consequences of the suggested measurements are discussed
with respect to the role of SST as an integral part of the fluxes between t
he ocean and the atmosphere.