This a text intended to occupy the middle ground between brief review papers on oceanographic applications of remote sensing and detailed technical reports about sensors and satellites. It provides marine scientists with a broad introduction to the subject from first principles and an explanation of the different techniques for applying satellite data in oceanography. It also gives sensor technologists and remote sensing specialists an oceanographer's perspective of satellite remote sensing in ocean study and provides a view across all types of satellite remote sensing of the ocean, visible, infrared and microwave frequencies, and both active and passive sensors.