Fleet Numerical SST (2 mb)

Real-time FNMOC Sea Surface Temperature and Anomaly

Description:

Sea surface temperature, much like the atmosphere's temperature, is constantly changing. The interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere is one that scientists are constantly researching, especially in light of climate change. Water warms up and cools down at a slower rate than air, so diurnal variations (heating during the day and cooling during the night) seen in the atmosphere are hard to observe in the ocean. The seasons, however, can be seen as the warmest water near the equator expands toward the United States during the summer months and withdraws again during the winter months.

Fleet Numerical SST Anomaly (3 mb)

Sea surface temperature anomaly is the departure from the normal sea surface temperature. This is an important variable to scientists because it quickly identifies any changes. A plot of just sea surface temperatures does not reveal, without background knowledge, if an area is warmer or colder than normal. Much of what happens in the atmosphere is influenced by what is happening in the ocean. Departures from normal in the sea surface temperature are important because they often cause a departure from normal in atmospheric conditions. Both sea surface temperature and sea surface anomaly are available in real-time from September of 2007 through present day, updating daily.

Sea Surface Temperature in Fahrenheit

Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly in Fahrenheit

Notable Features:

• Temperature is indicated by the color bars provided in Fahrenheit
• Dataset is updated once daily

Data Category

Major: Ocean

Keywords:

Sea surface temperature, anomaly, real-time, Fleet Numerical