SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE ANALYSIS

Sea-surface temperature (SST) observations are plotted and analyzed to delineate relative warm and cold surface water areas. The fundamental information derived from SST analysis has many uses. In search and rescue operations, the temperatures are used to determine survival times. Table 1-4-1 shows sea-water survival times based on temperature. In submarine and antisubmarine warfare operations, regions of strong SST gradients are extremely important because of their impact on sonar performance. And with regard to meteorology, sea-surface temperatures play an important role in the development and dissipation of sea fogs, thunderstorms, sea and land breezes, low clouds, and tropical storms.

Usually, a single days collection of SST observations is insufficient for the preparation of an SST regional analysis. Therefore, several days worth of SST observations are plotted on the same chart. The exact number of days may vary from command to command, but most charts consist of 5 days worth of data. Such charts are referred to as composite charts, because they are composed of more than one days data. Such an analysis is possible because seawater temperatures are quite conservative and are slow to change.

Erroneous SST values, and incorrect position-ing of correct values can change the entire analysis picture as well as that of all the resultant products. Therefore, check all questionable temperatures.

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