The feasibility of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging thermometry is tested as a potential tool for full-field and real-time temperature field mapping for thermally transient liquid mediums. Using the well-known Kretschmann’s analysis [ Physik 241, 313 (1971) ]. parametric examinations are performed to delineate the effects of important optical properties, including seven different prism materials with different refractive index values and seven different measured dielectric constants for thin gold (Au) films (approximately $47.5\mathrm{nm}$ in thickness), on the temperature dependence of SPR reflectance intensity variations. Furthermore, a laboratory-implemented real-time SPR thermometry system demonstrates the full-field mapping capabilities for transient temperature field developments in the near-wall region when a hot water droplet $(80°\mathrm{C})$ contacts the Au metal surface $(20°\mathrm{C})$ and spreads either in an air- or in a water-surrounded environment.