Yongala Region: Hourly 2km Ocean State Estimate from MITgcm LLC4320

Yongala region oceanographic data from a high-resolution global MITgcm simulation (LLC4320). The dataset provides hourly estimates of three-dimensional variables like temperature, salinity, and velocity, plus two-dimensional surface fluxes and anomalies. The model features 90 vertical levels, 2km nominal horizontal resolution, and is forced by ERA-Interim atmospheric reanalysis and tidal constituents.

Use Cases

• Studying regional ocean circulation and currents based on 3D velocity fields.
• Analyzing upper-ocean heat budgets and mixing based on temperature, heat flux, and mixed layer thickness.
• Investigating freshwater and salt fluxes based on salinity, net freshwater flux, and net salt flux variables.
• Validating or comparing other ocean models or satellite data against high-resolution simulated state estimates.

Strengths

• High spatiotemporal resolution: hourly output with 2km nominal horizontal grid and 90 vertical levels.
• Physically detailed model configuration: uses the MITgcm LLC4320 setup with explicit tidal forcing and KPP vertical mixing.
• Forced by a recognized atmospheric reanalysis (ERA-Interim), providing realistic surface boundary conditions.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflicts: last updated dates are inconsistent (2012 on NASA Earthdata vs. 2026 on Data.gov).
• Key technical details are missing: total row/size counts, specific column names, and exact license terms are not provided.
• The dataset's provenance and processing chain after the 2012 date are unclear due to the date conflict.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Output from a high-resolution global ocean numerical simulation (MITgcm LLC4320), spun up from ECCO and forced by ERA-Interim reanalysis.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:40:01.222239 (from Data.gov, but conflicts with NASA Earthdata's 2012 date)

Geography

Focus on the Yongala region, from a global ocean simulation.