38 Sea-surface temperature anomaly
Description: Seasonal sea surface temperature anomaly
Indicator family:
Contributor(s): Brandon Beltz, Abigail Tyrell
Affiliations: NEFSC
38.1 Introduction to Indicator
Sea surface temperature can be used as a proxy for overall thermal conditions in the system. Data for sea surface anomalies were derived from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration optimum interpolation sea surface temperature high resolution data set (NOAA OISST V2). Mean seasonal-annual SST was calculated for each EPU. To These data extend from 1981 to present. Anomalies are calculate by subtracting the long-term mean temperature is calculated from 1982-2010 for each season, from the seasonal-annual mean SST.
38.2 Key Results and Visualizations
Since 1982, SST has been increasing in all seasons in all three EPUs. 2023 was the warmest winter SST in the GOM and MAB on record. All record warmest seasonal SST years have occurred on or after 2012. 2023 also saw relatively cooler summer temperatures in GB and the GOM and fall temperatures in all regions.
38.3 Indicator statistics
Spatial scale: EPU
Temporal scale: Seasonal: Winter (January - March), Spring (April - June), Summer (July - September), Fall (October - December)
Synthesis Theme:
38.4 Implications
Sea surface temperature is an indicator of thermal habitat for pelagic species. Long-term warming trends suggest wide-spread environmental change in the system. Warming trends can have potential impacts on species spatial distributions, the seasonal timing of species life history events, and the overall productivity of the system.
38.5 Get the data
Point of contact: brandon.beltz@noaa.gov
ecodata name: ecodata::seasonal_oisst_anom
Variable definitions
Time: year, Var: season, Value: temperature anomaly (degrees Celcius), EPU
Indicator Category:
38.7 Accessibility and Constraints
No response
tech-doc link https://noaa-edab.github.io/tech-doc/seasonal_oisst_anom.html