AOML
NOAA

Introduction

A suite of key ocean indicators and indexes are computed at AOML using hydrographic and satellite observations. They provide information about ocean heat content, sea surface temperature, and ocean currents variability, and can be used to monitor and assess the current state of the ocean. If you would like to receive a file with the data of these indexes and indicators, please contact the investigators leading each specific work.

Ocean Currents
Ocean IndicatorTime-seriesBrief descriptionLinks
Florida Current Transport Cable-derived (FCcable)
Altimetry-derived (FCssh)
Carries northward the western boundary flow of the subtropical gyre and the warm upper limb of the meridional overturning circulation FC websites:

 FC cable website

 FC altimetry website
Yucatan Current (YC) Transport Transport of waters from the Caribean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico more information
Tropical Atlantic Current System NECC Transport
NECC Latitude
SEUC Transport
SEUC Latitude
Zonal transport of waters in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean more information
North Brazil Current (NBC) Transport
Retroflected Flow
Main contributor to the South to North Atlantic water mass transport more information
Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) Southwest boundary of the South Atlantic Subtropical gyre, connecting subpolar to subtropical regions more information
Brazil Current 25°S
30°S
35°S
38°S
Transport of warm water along the western boundary in the southward Brazil Current that closes subtropical gyre of the South Atlantic more information
Benguela Current 30°S
35°S
Northward transport of a blend of water from the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. more information
Agulhas Current (AC) Transport Boundary current closing the upper-limb of the Indian Ocean subtropical gyre more information

State of Oceans Currents
Ocean Indicator
State by year

FC Transport
   FCcable [Sv]
   FCssh [Sv]
YC Transport [Sv]
NECC
   Transport [Sv]
   Latitude [°S]
SEUC
   Transport [Sv]
   Latitude [°S]
NBC
   Transport [Sv]
   Retroflected
   flow [Sv]
Brazil Current
   25°S
   30°S
   35°S
   38°S
BMC Latitude [°S]
Benguela Current
   30°S
   35°S
AC Transport [Sv]

1 Sverdrup (Sv) = 106m3 s-1

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Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Height
Ocean IndicatorTime-seriesBrief descriptionLinks
Warm Pools Atlantc Warm Pool (AWP)
Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP)
Western Hemisphere Warm Pool (WHWP)
Extensions of warm (>28.5°C) surface waters in the tropical oceans used for extreme weather studies and outlooks
Tropical Cyclone Dynamic Temperature (Tdy) Caribbean Sea
Gulf of Mexico
An indicator to monitor the ocean's impact on tropical cyclone intensification
more information
Pacific ENSO Niño region 1.2
Niño region 3
Niño region 3.4
Niño region 4
El Niño Southern Oscillation is the most important ocean-atmosphere phenomenum linked to global climate variability on various time-scales, and linked to extreme weather events (tropical cyclones, tornadoes, droughts, and extreme rainfall)
Gulf of Mexico (GoM) Indicators Parameters and Indicators to monitor ocean conditions including surface currents, heat content, and sea-level
North Atlantic (NATL) Indicators Linked to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation
Atlantic 3 Region (ATL3) Indicators Shown to impact ENSO and linked to rainfall in the Gulf of Guinea

Other Regional Indicators
Ocean Indicator
State by year

GoM
   SST [°C]
   SHR [cm]
NATL
   SST [°C]
   SHR [cm]
ATL3
   SST [°C]
   SHR [cm]
Niño 1.2
   SST [°C]
   SHR [cm]
Niño 3
   SST [°C]
   SHR [cm]
Niño 3.4
    SST [°C]
   SHR [cm]
Niño 4
   SST [°C]
   SHR [cm]
AWP
   area X106 [km2]
   SHR [cm]
IPWP
   area X106 [km2]
   SHR [cm]
WHWP
   area X106 [km2]
   SHR [cm]
Tdy (June-Nov)
   Caribbean Sea
   Gulf of Mexico

South Atlantic MOC Indicators



MHT - Meridional Heat Transport (unit is PW X100)
MOC - Meridional Overturning Circulation (units is Sv, 1 Sv = 106m3 s-1)
MOV - Meridional Freshwater Flux (units is Sv X 10, 1 Sv = 106m3 s-1)

Altimetry-derived South Atlantic MHT State
Latitude
State by year

34.5°S
         Total
         Geostrophic
         Ekman

Estimates of altimetry-derived South Atlantic MOC and MHT for other latitudes can be found in the link


Argo-altimetry derived South Atlantic MOC State
Latitude
State by year

35°S
            MOC
            MHT

Estimates of Argo-altimetry derived MOC indicators for other latitudes can be found in the link

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