Monthly Ocean Temperature Climatology for Northwest Atlantic (1990-2015)

Monthly mean temperature climatology for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, derived from the BNAM eddy-resolving ocean model. The dataset provides averages over the 1990-2015 period at eight specific depths, with a spatial resolution of 1/12 degree. It was developed by the Bedford Institute of Oceanography to support Fisheries and Oceans Canada monitoring programs.

Use Cases

• Analyze monthly temperature climatology patterns at eight selected depths (surface to bottom) to study ocean thermal structure.
• Model the climatological state of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean using 1/12 degree spatial resolution data for regional climate studies.
• Investigate temperature variations across the model domain (8°–75°N, 100°W–30°E) to support interpretations of changes in currents like the Labrador Current.

Strengths

• Data is derived from a validated, eddy-resolving ocean model (BNAM) whose hindcast results show good skill in simulating key oceanographic features.
• Provides climatological averages over a 26-year period (1990-2015), offering a stable baseline for comparison.
• Includes data at eight specific ocean depths, enabling vertical profile analysis of temperature.

Limitations

• Data represents a model-based climatology, not direct observations, and may contain simulation biases.
• The primary temporal coverage ends in 2015, limiting analysis of recent ocean warming trends.
• Full model data for each month from 1990 onward is only available upon request, not directly in this packaged climatology.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Model-derived climatology created by averaging monthly mean temperature outputs from the NEMO-based ice-ocean coupled BNAM model.

Time Range

1990-2015 (climatological average period).

Freshness

Dataset represents a static 1990-2015 climatology; the underlying model may have newer hindcasts.

Geography

Northwest Atlantic Ocean, model domain: 8°–75°N latitude and 100°W–30°E longitude.