Satellite clouds and sea temperature
A real photo of the clouds over the whole Earth taken by a NASA satellite, plus a colour map of water temperature in seas and oceans. Check where the sea is warm before you pack.
Click any point on the map to see the details. Data: NASA GIBS (VIIRS, Suomi NPP) and GHRSST MUR (NASA JPL).
Open the full mapWhat the map shows
A true-colour image from the latest satellite pass. You can see weather fronts, tropical storms and clear skies.
Colours from purple (cold water) to red (warm). Handy for choosing a holiday spot and for watching things like El Niño.
Zoom into your region, a coastline or an entire ocean. The map covers the whole world.
On the full map, add planes, ships or the aurora and see everything at once.
Where the images and data come from
The cloud image comes from the Suomi NPP satellite, which circles the Earth more than a dozen times a day and photographs the planet strip by strip. NASA stitches those strips into one map once a day, so we show the image from the previous day rather than clouds moving minute by minute.
Sea temperature is calculated by scientists from several satellites, buoys and ships. The map has a resolution of about 1 km, and the data is ready with a delay of a few days because it needs processing. Water temperature changes slowly, though, so it still shows well where the sea is warm and where it is cold.
FAQ
Is the cloud image live?
Not minute by minute. It is a satellite image from the previous day, updated daily, but it covers the whole world in great detail.
How do I check the sea temperature for my holiday?
Zoom into the coast you are going to. The colour of the water shows the temperature, and the legend at the bottom of the map explains the colours.
Does the map show rain and storms?
You can see clouds, fronts and tropical storms from above, but it is not a rain radar. For the next few hours, use your local weather service.
Is it free?
Yes. You can view the NASA imagery and the sea temperature map for free, without signing up.