Current and archived satellite data offer new opportunities for atmospheric research and monitoring in the marine environment. This paper reviews capabilities for remote sensing of sea-surface temperature and a variety of tropospheric parameters including temperature profiles, water vapour, rain, aerosol and surface winds. A detailed discussion of factors which influence the accuracy of sea-surface temperature measurements is given as a case study in satellite data reduction considerations. Improving accuracy and coverage of marine meteorological conditions provides data which enhance ongoing studies of marine weather and macroscale air-sea chemical exchange. An integrated marine tropospheric measurement system is proposed which stresses the need for combining satellites, aircraft and sea-surface platforms on a continuing basis in future global monitoring efforts.