1.   Patterns of air pressure, surface winds and sea surface temperatures are all interlinked.

2.   The Meteorological Office is studying the possibility that the recent warm summers have raised sea temperatures enough to alter the behaviour of the storms.

3.   Changes in sea temperature or salinity can cause the algae to leave, causing white blotches to form.

4.   Some scientists have suggested that a rise in the sea temperature could be releasing more mercury.

5.   The sea temperature gives us clues to the changing climate and the possible effects of global warming.

6.   Although the warm water pool in the eastern Pacific is losing volume month by month, sea surface temperatures are expected to remain above normal into the summer.

7.   A likely culprit, scientists say, is a documented increase in sea surface temperatures during the same period.

8.   Changes in sea temperatures in the Atlantic are not directly connected to El Nino, Davey said.