This page can be used animate maps of daily mean 2-meter air temperature (2m Temperature),
sea surface temperature (SST), and sea ice concentration from climate data products with
record periods spanning about four decades. Use the buttons above the map to select the
Variable, Map Area, and Year/Month. The maps can be animated you the playback buttons and
slider.
2m Temperature maps are generated from the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS) version 2 (April 2011 – present) and
CFS Reanalysis
(January 1979 – March 2011). CFS/CFSR is a numerical climate and weather modeling framework
that ingests surface, radiosonde, and satellite observations to estimate the state of
the atmosphere through time. 2m Temperature Anomaly for each day is calculated in
reference to 1979–2000 CFSR climatology. Users are encouraged to learn more about
reanalysis — approach, strengths, limitations, and product comparisons — on the
NCAR Climate Data Guide.
The Sea Ice Concentration maps are also generated from CFS/CFSR and based on satellite
observational input.
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and SST Anomaly maps are generated from
NOAA Optimum Interpolation SST (OISST) version 2.1. OISST is a 0.25°x0.25° gridded
dataset that estimates temperatures based on a blend of satellite, ship, and buoy observations.
OISST also includes SST anomaly (based on a 1971–2000 NOAA climatology) and sea ice
concentration variables. A sea ice mask is applied to the SST and anomaly maps for gridcells
where ice concentration is >= 50%. Learn more about the OISST, including strengths and
limitations, from the
NCAR Climate Data Guide.
Both the Sea Ice Conentration and SST maps updated daily with a 1-day lag.
