East Australian Current Sea Surface Temperature Maps from Himawari-8, 2015-2017

Xie et al. (2020) produced a quantitative mapping of the East Australian Current (EAC) encroachment using time series Himawari-8 sea surface temperature (SST) data. The dataset covers the period from July 2015 to September 2017 and maps the spatial structure and temporal evolution of the EAC system using a Topographic Position Index method. The study relates SST signatures to surface current speeds and analyzes variability on eddy-shedding and seasonal timescales.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the spatial variability and temporal evolution of EAC meanders, offshoots, and eddies based on the mapped SST signatures.
• Investigating the seasonal cycle of EAC encroachment strength, which is described as stronger in austral summer and weaker in winter.
• Studying the eddy-shedding timescale of EAC variability, reported as 65-80 days upstream and 90-100 days downstream of the separation point.
• Relating sea surface temperature signatures to surface current speed signatures, as the study found an overall area ratio of overlap of approximately 60%.

Strengths

• Uses Himawari-8 SST data with very high spatiotemporal resolution, enabling mapping of highly dynamic ocean features.
• Covers a defined 26-month study period from July 2015 to September 2017.
• Quantitatively relates SST signatures to surface current speeds with an area overlap ratio of ~60%.
• Documents specific temporal scales of variability, including 65-100 day eddy-shedding and seasonal cycles.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the study region off the southeast coast of Australia and eastern Tasmania.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, based on research by Xie, S., Huang, Z., Wang, X. H., & Leplastrier, A. (2020).

Collection Method

Derived from Himawari-8 satellite sea surface temperature data, processed using a Topographic Position Index (TPI) method and compared with an eddy-resolving, data-assimilating numerical ocean model.

Time Range

July 2015 to September 2017

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 16:14:21.981724; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southeast coast of Australia and the eastern coast of Tasmania, focusing on the East Australian Current path.