Skip to main content

Sea Surface Temperatures Map

This map shows charts of sea surface temperatures for the previous two weeks at shellfish harvesting locations in BC.

The temperature estimates in the charts are composite values calculated based on night-time observations from several satellite instruments. The temperature estimates are from a one-kilometer square at the location marked on the chart. These estimates represent the foundation sea surface temperature, which is the sea surface temperature that is free of diurnal temperature variability, usually occurring at a depth of about 10 metres below the surface. Data is downloaded daily.  

 Go to the map

 Page Viewer

  • These charts are useful to assess temperature trends over time to show warming patterns in the ocean that would affect shellfish harvesting. They do not provide maximum daytime temperatures, temperatures that would be at the surface of the ocean or air temperatures, all of which would normally be higher than the values shown in the graphs. For more resources, see Shellfish Harvesting & Control.
  • For questions or comments, or for more information about accessing SST data from this application, please contact Environmental Health Services
  • Source: JPL MUR MEaSUREs Project. 2015. GHRSST Level 4 MUR Global Foundation Sea Surface Temperature Analysis (v4.1). Ver. 4.1. PO.DAAC, CA, USA. Dataset accessed daily at: Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology (http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04).
  • The SST product being used in these maps is the “SSTfnd” product”, which is the sea surface foundation temperature. This is the temperature at the first time of the day when the heat gain from the solar radiation absorption exceeds the heat loss at the sea surface, and it is free of diurnal temperature variability.  The sea surface foundation temperature usually occurs at a depth of about 10 metres below the surface.
SOURCE: Sea Surface Temperatures Map ( )
Page printed: . Unofficial document if printed. Please refer to SOURCE for latest information.

Copyright © BC Centre for Disease Control. All Rights Reserved.

    Copyright © 2024 Provincial Health Services Authority.