Coastal Upwelling Frequency for Southeastern Australia from MODIS SST

14 years of monthly MODIS sea surface temperature data were used to generate this GIS layer mapping upwelling frequency. The data shows areas of persistent, semi-persistent, and seasonal upwelling along the southeastern Australian coast. It was produced by the Australian Ocean Data Network and is associated with a 2019 publication in Remote Sensing of Environment.

Use Cases

• Identify marine biodiversity hotspots based on areas of persistent upwelling mentioned in the description.
• Model nutrient transport and primary productivity based on the spatial and temporal variability of upwelling systems.
• Validate regional ocean circulation models based on the 14-year record of upwelling frequency.
• Inform marine spatial planning and fisheries management based on seasonal upwelling patterns.

Strengths

• Based on 14 years of satellite-derived MODIS SST data, providing a multi-year perspective.
• Distinguishes between persistent, semi-persistent, and seasonal upwelling regimes as described.
• Peer-reviewed methodology documented in a 2019 scientific publication.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and specific file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Freshness should be verified; the last metadata update was 2026-06-05.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data.gov.au

Collection Method

Generated from 14 years of monthly MODIS sea surface temperature data using a published mapping method.

Time Range

Covers a 14-year period (specific years not stated).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 07:33:59.667161; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southeastern coast of Australia.