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    • Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST), Version 4

    Metadata Updated: September 19, 2023

    The Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) dataset is a global monthly sea surface temperature analysis on a 2x2 degree grid derived from the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset (ICOADS). The latest ERSST Version 4 (v4) is based on Version 3b (v3b). Major revisions for v4 include: updated and substantively more complete input data from the ICOADS Release 2.5 (R2.5); revised Empirical Orthogonal Teleconnections (EOTs) and EOT acceptance criterion; updated sea surface temperature (SST) quality control procedures; revised SST anomaly (SSTA) evaluation methods; updated bias adjustments of ship SSTs using Hadley Nighttime Marine Air Temperature version 2 (HadNMAT2); and a buoy SST bias adjustment not previously made in v3b. ERSST v4 is generated using in situ SST data and improved statistical methods that allow stable reconstruction when data are sparse. The monthly analysis extends from January 1854 to the present, but because of sparse data in the early years, there is damping of the analyzed signal before 1880. After 1880, the strength of the signal is more consistent over time. The product is updated monthly with the available GTS ship and buoy data for that month. Data for the time period from January 2001 to the previous month are recalculated every month. Data before January 2001 are not updated. Note that v3b data were recalculated every month for January 1985 to the previous month. The SST anomalies are computed with respect to a 1971-2000 month climatology. Local and short-term variations have been smoothed in the ERSST analysis. The product is suitable for long-term global and basin-wide SST studies, and it is used as an input to the NCEI Merged Land Ocean Surface Temperature (MLOST) product. The data are written to a monthly netCDF files with CF metadata attributes included.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Date June 23, 2023
    Metadata Created Date February 3, 2023
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2023
    Reference Date(s) May 26, 2015 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update monthly

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from ncdc

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    ERSST v4 image for May 2015.

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date June 23, 2023
    Metadata Created Date February 3, 2023
    Metadata Updated Date September 19, 2023
    Reference Date(s) May 26, 2015 (publication)
    Responsible Party NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (Point of Contact); DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.ncdc:C00884
    Access Constraints Cite as: Boyin Huang, Viva F. Banzon, Eric Freeman, Jay Lawrimore, Wei Liu, Thomas C. Peterson, Thomas M. Smith, Peter W. Thorne, Scott D. Woodruff, and Huai-Min Zhang, 2015: Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST), Version 4. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5KD1VVF [access date]., Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 180.0
    Bbox North Lat 90.0
    Bbox South Lat -90.0
    Bbox West Long -180.0
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update monthly
    Graphic Preview Description ERSST v4 image for May 2015.
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/metadata/images/C00884_May2015.png
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id 6e948dfa-5d74-46ca-bd99-5493ca64794b
    Harvest Source Id 2cb3ef77-1683-4c2a-9119-dc65e50917c6
    Harvest Source Title ncdc
    Licence
    Lineage The data were produced by and are archived at the NOAA NCEI.
    Metadata Language eng; USA
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
    Progress onGoing
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 1854-01-01

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