NASA MEaSUREs/HOMaGE: Global Ocean Mass and Sea Level Anomalies from GRACE Satellites

NASA MEaSUREs/HOMaGE Project data provides monthly global ocean mass anomalies and sea level equation components derived from GRACE and GRACE Follow-On satellite missions since April 2002. The dataset includes processed spherical harmonic gravity fields from JPL, CSR, and GFZ centers, as well as steric sea level and ocean heat content anomalies from multiple oceanographic institutions. Data are frequently updated with new monthly observations from the GFO mission.

Use Cases

• Tracking global mean barystatic sea level change based on the monthly ocean mass anomaly time series.
• Analyzing regional contributions to sea level from specific land domains like Greenland or Antarctica based on the gridded GRD components.
• Investigating ocean heat content variability using the monthly global mean OHC and steric sea level anomaly data.
• Validating climate models by comparing observed gravitational-rotational-deformational sea level components against simulations.

Strengths

• Data spans over two decades, starting from April 2002, providing a long-term climate record.
• Incorporates processed gravity fields from three independent SDS centers: JPL, CSR, and GFZ.
• Applies specific corrections including a GIA correction using the ICE-6GD model and removal of atmospheric loading.
• Integrates ocean profile data from multiple leading institutions including Scripps, IAP, and the Met Office.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Data gaps exist in the monthly time series and towards polar latitudes in the steric data.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

NASA MEaSUREs/HOMaGE Project, utilizing GRACE and GRACE Follow-On satellite missions.

Collection Method

Satellite gravity measurements processed into spherical harmonics and gridded mascons, combined with ocean temperature and salinity profiles.

Time Range

Since April 2002.

Freshness

Data are frequently updated as new monthly observations are acquired.

Geography

Global ocean domain.