Seasonal Climatologies of the Canadian Pacific EEZ (1981-2010)

1981-2010 seasonal climatologies for the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone, derived from a 3-km resolution ocean model simulation. The dataset contains raster layers for 11 variables including temperature, salinity, nitrate, and primary production across 47 vertical levels. Model results have been validated against tide gauge, CTD, and altimetry observations.

Use Cases

• Analyze seasonal cycles of temperature and salinity across 47 vertical levels to study ocean stratification.
• Model aragonite saturation state and pH to assess ocean acidification trends in the Pacific EEZ.
• Map primary production and phytoplankton surface values to study marine ecosystem productivity.
• Use current speed and bottom depth layers for coastal circulation and habitat modeling studies.

Strengths

• 30-year climatological baseline (1981-2010) providing a stable reference period.
• Eddy-resolving 3-km horizontal model resolution with 47 vertical depth levels.
• Includes 11 biogeochemical and physical variables validated against observational data.

Limitations

• Model output is set to NaN in uncertain regions like inlets, nearshore areas, and the Strait of Georgia.
• Total phytoplankton data is limited to surface values only, lacking vertical profiles.
• Data represents a model climatology, not direct observational measurements.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Numerical simulation from the British Columbia Continental Margin (BCCM) ocean circulation-biogeochemical model (ROMS v3.5).

Time Range

1981 to 2010

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-24, though the underlying data period is 1981-2010.

Geography

Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone (CPEEZ)