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External Data Spec

HadSST.4 global sea surface temperature dataset

External Data Spec Published 05 Nov 2019
1 min read
HadSST.4.0.0.0 is the Met Office Hadley Centre Sea-surface temperature anomaly data set. Anomalies are expressed relative to the 1961-1990 average. The data have been adjusted to minimize the effect of systematic errors associated with instrumen tation changes and are representative of SST measured at a depth of 20cm. The data set is presented on an equirectangular 5° latitude by 5° longitude monthly grid from January 1850 to December 2018. Uncertainty in the data is presented using a combined approach. Uncertainty in the bias adjustments is presented as an ensemble of interchangeable realisations. Uncertainty arising from local measurement errors and local sampling errors are presented as gridded fields. Uncertainties associated with correlated measurement errors are presented as error-covariance matrices. These can be combined to give uncertainty estimates for derived quantities such as the global mean temperature. HadSST.4.0.0.0 is based on ICOADS release 3.0.0 (1850-2014, [2]) and ICOADS release 3.0.1 (2015-present). In addition it uses drifting buoy observations from CMEMS.
information.png Provider:
Met Office Hadley Centre observations datasets
information.png Dataset URL:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadsst4/data/download.html

Related content

Produced figures

Figure Decadal average sea surface temperature anomaly in different European seas (1870 to 2020) Time series of sea surface temperature anomalies (°C), referenced to the average temperature between 1981 and 2010, in each of the European seas and in the Global Ocean. Data sources: SST datasets from the Met Office (HadISST1, HadSST.4.0.0.0 and OSTIA), the US National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (ERSSTv5), ESA SST CCI analysis version 2.1.
Figure
Archived
Decadal average sea surface temperature anomaly in different European seas (1870 to 2018) The figure shows global and regionally averaged sea surface temperatures anomalies relative to a 1981-2010 baseline. The solid lines show satellite-based series, combining SST CCI (Sea Surface Temperature Climate Change Initiative) Analysis data (to 2016) with the OSTIA (Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Analysis) near real-time updated data (to 2018). The shaded area in each plot indicates the upper and lower uncertainty range of the long-term evolution of the regional averages based on three global data sets (HadSST.4.0.0.0, ERSSTv5 and HadISST).
Figure
Archived
Decadal average sea surface temperature anomaly in different European seas The figure shows decadal global and regionally averaged sea-surface temperature anomalies relative to a 1981-2010 baseline. The solid line shows a satellite-based series combining the SST CCI analysis (to 2016) with the OSTIA near-real time updates (to 2018). The shaded area in each plot indicates the upper and lower uncertainty range of the long-term evolution of the regional averages based on three global data sets (HadSST.4.0.0.0, ERSSTv5 and HadISST).

Used in indicators

Indicator Specification European sea surface temperature This indicator monitors trends in average SST anomalies in Europe’s regional seas and in the global ocean. Care must be taken when comparing the results reported here with previous versions of the indicator, as differences can arise from the choice of underlying data sets. SST is an important physical characteristic of the oceans. It varies naturally with latitude, being warmest at the equator and coldest in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. As the oceans absorb more heat, SST will increase (and heat will be redistributed to deeper water layers). Increases in the mean SST are also accompanied by increases in the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves (that is, when the daily SST exceeds a locally and seasonally defined threshold). Increases in SST can lead to an increase in atmospheric water vapour over the oceans, influencing entire weather systems. The North Atlantic Ocean plays a key role in the regulation of climate over the European continent by transporting heat northwards and redistributing energy from the atmosphere to the deep parts of the ocean. The Gulf Stream and its extensions, the North Atlantic Current and Drift, partly determine weather patterns over the European continent, including precipitation and wind regimes. One of the most visible physical ramifications of increased temperature in the oceans is a reduction in the area of sea ice coverage in the Arctic polar region. Temperature is a determining factor for the metabolism of species, and thus for their distribution and phenology, such as the timing of seasonal migrations, spawning events and peak abundances (e.g. plankton bloom events). There is an accumulating body of evidence suggesting that many marine species and habitats, such as cetaceans in the North Atlantic Ocean, are highly sensitive to changes in SST. Increased temperature may also increase stratification of the water column. Such changes can significantly reduce vertical nutrient fluxes in the water column, thereby negatively influencing primary production and phytoplankton community structure. Further changes in SST could have widespread effects on marine species and cause the reconfiguration of marine ecosystems (Gilbert et al., 2014; Baker-Austin et al., 2016; Collins et al., 2019).
Indicator Specification
Archived
Sea surface temperature This indicator monitors trends in average SST anomalies in Europe’s regional seas and in the global ocean.

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/external/hadsst-4-global-sea-surface or scan the QR code.

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