Northeastern Pacific Ocean Model Projections for 1986-2005 Climate

Three simulations from the Northeastern Pacific Canadian Ocean Ecosystem Model (NEP36-CanOE) provide a 20-year mean climate estimate for 1986-2005. The dataset includes monthly 3D fields for 13 biogeochemical variables like potential temperature, salinity, and dissolved inorganic carbon across 50 vertical levels at a 1/36-degree resolution. Fisheries and Oceans Canada produced this data using a multi-stage downscaling approach from global climate models.

Use Cases

• Analyze air-sea carbon dioxide flux patterns across the Northeastern Pacific to estimate regional carbon uptake.
• Model changes in aragonite saturation state and pH under different RCP scenarios to assess ocean acidification impacts.
• Study the 3D distribution of total chlorophyll and total primary production to understand phytoplankton dynamics.
• Compare potential temperature and salinity fields between historical and future (2046-2065) simulations to project ocean warming and freshening.
• Investigate vertical profiles of dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity to constrain biogeochemical cycles.

Strengths

• High spatial resolution of 1/36 degree (~1.5-2.25 km) for detailed regional analysis.
• Includes 13 distinct monthly 3D biogeochemical variables, such as nitrate, oxygen, and pH.
• Covers 50 vertical levels, providing detailed depth-resolved data.
• Based on a complex biogeochemical model with 19 tracers for detailed ecosystem representation.

Limitations

• Simulations represent 20-year climatological means (e.g., 1986-2005) rather than continuous interannual time series.
• A provided mask indicates regions where data should be used cautiously, suggesting potential model inaccuracies in certain areas.
• Computational constraints led to the use of atmospheric climatologies with augmented winds, which may not fully capture natural interannual variability.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Multi-stage dynamic downscaling of global climate projections (CanESM2) using the NEMO V3.6 ocean model configuration (NEP36-CanOE) forced by regional atmospheric model (CanRCM4) climatologies.

Time Range

Historical simulation: 1986-2005. Future projections: 2046-2065.

Freshness

Last updated March 2026; update frequency is null.

Geography

Northeastern Pacific Ocean region adjacent to Canada.