Northwest Atlantic Ocean Salinity Climatology at Eight Depths

Monthly mean salinity climatology for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, averaged from 1990 to 2015. The dataset provides values at eight selected depths from surface to bottom, with a spatial resolution of 1/12 degree. It was produced using the eddy-resolving BNAM ocean model from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of monthly mean salinity across eight depths to study vertical stratification in the Northwest Atlantic.
• Model the climatological state of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean using the 1/12 degree resolution grid for regional climate studies.
• Compare surface layer salinity from the 1990-2015 climatology with more recent observational data to detect long-term trends.
• Investigate winter convection events in the Labrador Sea using the model's representation of salinity at various depths.

Strengths

• Climatology is derived from a 26-year model hindcast (1990-2015), providing a stable long-term average.
• Data is available at eight specific depths, enabling three-dimensional analysis of the water column.
• The underlying BNAM model is eddy-resolving and has demonstrated skill in simulating key ocean processes.

Limitations

• Data represents a model-based climatology, not direct observations, and contains inherent model biases and uncertainties.
• The temporal coverage ends in 2015, limiting analysis of recent salinity changes.
• The full model domain data for each month and depth is not directly available in this package and requires a separate request.

Provenance

Source

Bedford Institute of Oceanography North Atlantic Model (BNAM), Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Collection Method

Monthly mean salinity outputs from an eddy-resolving, NEMO-based ice-ocean coupled model were averaged over the 1990-2015 period.

Time Range

1990 to 2015 (climatological average).

Freshness

The dataset is a static climatology (1990-2015); the underlying model may have newer hindcasts available upon request.

Geography

Northwest Atlantic Ocean within the model domain (8°–75°N, 100°W–30°E).