Abstract:

This dataset contains Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-derived sea surface temperature (SST) in the Gulf of Mexico, at 4-km spatial resolution and monthly temporal resolution. This is the standard NASA data product distributed by NASA's Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC; https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov) with the addition of calculated statistical fields. The original data have been sub-setted to the Gulf of Mexico region (18N to 31N and 98W to 79W) in order to calculate the monthly mean SST distributions over the 2012-2018 period, the annual mean SST distribution for each year, and the monthly anomaly fields for each year. Figures illustrating the distribution for the Gulf of Mexico region are included for the original and calculated data.

Suggested Citation:

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. 2020. MODIS-derived sea surface temperature in the Gulf of Mexico between 2012-01-01 to 2018-12-31. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-c5yd-bx03

Purpose:

To study spatial and temporal patterns and changes in sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico.

Data Parameters and Units:

The original SST fields have the parameters SST [degrees C], qual_sst (quality levels, [0b to 5b]), latitude [decimal degrees N], longitude [decimal degrees E]), and palette (RGB eight-bit color fields). The annual mean, monthly climatology, and SST anomaly calculated variables have the parameters SST [degrees C].

Methods:

These are standard NASA data products, generated from satellite measurements using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. All data collection, algorithms, and product uncertainties can be found on the NASA website https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov. The monthly mean data products are gridded to 4-km resolution for the region of 18°N to 31°N and 98°W to 79°W.

Individual Files: