In situ data are widely used for monitoring monthly mean land surface temperatures. Unfortunately, there are large areas, particularly in the tropics, with little or no near-real time transmission of in situ climate data. To address this problem we have developed a technique to derive monthly mean land surface temperature from Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data. These SSM/I derived temperature data are available for most non-snow covered land surfaces from 1992 onward. To account for instrument drift, the satellite derived fields are being anchored to co-located in situ observations. The final product, will be a blend of both in situ anchored SSM/I derived temperature fields and in situ data. This presentation will focus on the blended temperature product which is presently still under development. Preliminary results indicate that the accuracy of the 1x1 degree blended temperature product will make it very useful for monitoring regional climate anomalies and for validation of global circulation model accuracy and spatial patterns.