Seasonal Ocean Climatologies for Canadian Pacific EEZ (1993-2020)

Seasonal climatologies for the Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone are derived from a 3-km resolution ocean model simulation spanning 1993 to 2020. The data contain raster layers for 11 variables including temperature, salinity, nitrate, and phytoplankton across 47 vertical levels. This model output, produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, represents the climatological state of the region.

Use Cases

• Analyze cross-shore and vertical gradients of temperature and salinity across 47 depth levels to study ocean stratification.
• Model the aragonite saturation state and pH to assess ocean acidification risks in the Canadian Pacific EEZ.
• Investigate seasonal cycles of nitrate and phytoplankton concentrations to understand primary production dynamics.
• Use current speed and bottom depth layers to inform regional marine spatial planning and habitat studies.

Strengths

• Provides data for 11 key oceanographic variables including biogeochemical parameters like dissolved inorganic carbon.
• Offers high vertical resolution with data across 47 selected depth levels from surface to bottom.
• Based on an eddy-resolving numerical model with a 3-km horizontal resolution validated against observations.
• Covers a long-term climatological period of 28 years (1993-2020) for seasonal analysis.

Limitations

• Model resolution is too coarse to adequately represent inlets, nearshore areas, and the Strait of Georgia, with these regions set to NaN.
• Some variables like total phytoplankton are limited to surface values only, lacking full vertical profiles.
• As model output, the data contains inherent uncertainties and may not capture all localized real-world phenomena.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Derived from a numerical simulation using the British Columbia Continental Margin (BCCM) model, an implementation of the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS).

Time Range

1993 to 2020

Freshness

Last updated in March 2026, representing a recent processing of the long-term climatology.

Geography

Canadian Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone (CPEEZ)