Satellite Ocean Heat Content Suite with Isotherm Depth Parameters

NOAA's Satellite Ocean Heat Content Suite (SOHCS) provides seven oceanographic parameters derived from multiple satellite altimeters and sea surface temperature analyses. The dataset includes sea surface height anomaly, depths of the 20°C and 26°C isotherms, mixed layer depth, ocean heat content, sea surface temperature, and mapping error. It is produced operationally by NOAA NESDIS using an algorithm from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School, with a global 0.25-degree grid.

Use Cases

• Analyzing upper ocean heat content variability for climate change studies using the 'ocean heat content' parameter.
• Studying tropical cyclone heat potential by examining the 'depth of the 26°C isotherm' and 'sea surface temperature'.
• Validating ocean model outputs with spatially continuous fields of 'sea surface height anomaly' and 'mixed layer depth'.
• Investigating ocean dynamics by correlating 'depth of the 20°C isotherm' with 'sea surface height anomaly' fields.

Strengths

• Derived from a multi-satellite constellation including SARAL, Jason-series, Cryosat-2, and Sentinel-series, ensuring spatial and temporal coverage.
• Provides seven specific physical parameters on a consistent 0.25-degree global grid, facilitating spatial analysis.
• Operational product from NOAA NESDIS indicates regular processing and updates.

Limitations

• Sources conflict on the exact list of source satellites; datagov lists Sentinel-3A, Sentinel-3B, and Sentinel-6A, while nasa_earthdata does not.
• Key metadata such as row count, file size, license, and precise temporal coverage are unavailable across all platforms.
• The 'last updated' date of 2026-04-01 on datagov appears to be a future date, indicating a potential metadata error.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). Algorithm developed by University of Miami/Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS).

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing using a reduced gravity model applied to blended sea surface height anomaly fields from operational altimeters and Geo-Polar blended sea surface temperature analyses.

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-04-01 15:32:39.227141 (Note: This is a future date, suggesting a metadata anomaly.)

Geography

Global coverage with 0.25-degree grid spacing in latitude and longitude.