NOAA Coral Reef Watch Experimental Daily Near-Real-Time Global 25-km Satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums Product

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Experimental Daily Near-Real-Time Global 25-km Satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums Product
Abstract:
The NOAA Coral Reef Watch (CRW) experimental daily satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums product is part of the CRW near-real-time global satellite coral bleaching monitoring product suite. The Doldrums product was initially implemented on October 1, 2006 and continues to provide updated monitoring information daily. The latest version, Version 0.3, was implemented on November 24, 2008. This metadata file provides information on the product for the most recent near-real-time updates and the archived and retrospectively-produced product dating back to June 1, 2004. The current version of the product is derived from the experimental 6-hourly near-real-time NOAA/NESDIS National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) blended satellite sea surface winds product. Wind speeds used for deriving the CRW Doldrums product were generated by blending observations from multiple satellites. The blended product offers, globally, 0.25 degree x 0.25 degree ocean surface (10-meter height) winds interpolated from observations from up to six satellites. The blending of multiple satellite observations allows for greatly enhanced temporal resolution (up to 6-hourly). The satellites that have contributed to the Doldrums product include Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) sensors flown on-board the United States Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13, F14, and F15 satellites; the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission's (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) on-board the TRMM satellite; SeaWinds scatterometer on-board the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) satellite; and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer - Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) sensor on NASA's Aqua satellite. CRW uses wind speed data from these satellites to identify regions of low wind conditions, defined here as exhibiting a daily mean of less than 3 meters per second (i.e. "doldrums"). The duration of doldrums events is then tracked by accumulating the number of days over which this condition is met (doldrums days). As an experimental product, CRW's Sea Surface Wind Doldrums product undergoes continual development and refinement to determine the best configuration for the algorithm and to test its utility against past bleaching events. While basin-scale coral bleaching occurs as a result of large-scale climate phenomena, local weather patterns greatly influence bleaching variability among sites within a basin. Three related factors that influence local bleaching patterns are temperature, light, and mixing. One parameter that exerts a common influence over all of these is wind. As wind speed falls, there is reduced vertical mixing, evaporative cooling, and sensible heat transfer, increasing the likelihood of adverse temperature excursions during summertime maximum water temperatures (Mumby et al. 2001, Dunne and Brown 2001, Skirving and Guinotte 2001, Obura 2005). In addition, pronounced stratification that can result under low-wind conditions can enhance photo-degradation of colored dissolved organic material, thereby reducing shading over corals and enhancing the likelihood of bleaching (Manzello et al., 2006). Related details, as well as other important information, are provided in each HDF data file. The Sea Surface Wind Doldrums product is available in various formats, including static image, HDF data, and Google Earth. The product, its detailed description, and available data formats and delivery mechanisms are accessible at: <http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/doldrums_v2/index.html>.
Supplemental_Information:
The entire suite of products mentioned in this metadata file is accessible at: <http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite>
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    NOAA Coral Reef Watch program, 20061001, NOAA Coral Reef Watch Experimental Daily Near-Real-Time Global 25-km Satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums Product: NOAA Coral Reef Watch program, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -180
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: 180
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 89.875
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -89.875

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/doldrums_v2/data/current/doldrums_map_xlarge.gif> (GIF)
    This is the most recent image of the NOAA CRW experimental near-real-time daily global 25-km satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums product.

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 01-Jun-2004
    Ending_Date: Present
    Currentness_Reference: Ground Condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Remote sensing image, HDF data, KML, Google Earth, webpage

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Raster data set. It contains the following raster data types:

      • Dimensions 719 x 1440, type Grid Cell

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.25. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.25. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Grid Intersection
    There are 1440 grid intersections in each row (at a pre-defined latitude) and 719 grid intersections in each column (at a pre-defined longitude). Each grid is 0.25 degree latitude by 0.25 degree longitude in size, centered at latitudes of from 89.75N northward to 89.75N and at longitudes of from 0.0 eastward to 359.75. (Source: <http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/doldrums_v2/index.html>)

    HDF data files
    These are CRW satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums data. (Source: <http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/doldrums_v2/index.html>)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:31
    Units:Days

    SST image files in GIF format
    These are the image display of CRW satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums data. (Source: <http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/doldrums_v2/index.html>)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:255
    Units:Index color values

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    NOAA Coral Reef Watch program
    Attn: NOAA Coral Reef Watch Coordinator
    NOAA, E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5308, 1335 East-West Highway
    Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3226
    USA

    301-713-2857 ext 109 (voice)
    301-713-3136 (FAX)
    coralreefwatch@noaa.gov

Why was the data set created?

The NOAA Coral Reef Watch program seeks to fully utilize space-based observations combined with in-situ data to continually monitor for early indications of thermally-induced coral reef bleaching worldwide. A suite of monitoring and predicting products, including this satellite Sea Surface Wind Doldrums product, has been developed by CRW as a decision support system to provide critical and timely coral reef environment information to the U.S. and international coral reef communities.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: Not complete (process 1 of 1)
    CRW's 25-km Sea Surface Wind Doldrums product was produced experimentally by CRW based on the NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC 6-hourly blended satellite sea surface winds product, which was developed from sea surface wind observations from up to six satellites. The source sea surface wind data are accessible at: <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/rsad/air-sea/seawinds.html>.

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The accuracy of the Doldrums product depends on the accuracy of the source data from the NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC blended satellite sea surface winds product. The description of the NCDC blended winds product can be accessed at <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/rsad/air-sea/seawinds.html>.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Users are referred to the following blended satellite sea surface winds product web site for information: <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/rsad/air-sea/seawinds.html>

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    none

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    There are time-dependent spatial data gaps in this data set; however, there is no missing daily product. This daily Doldrums product is produced using six-hourly wind data from NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC. Data gaps in the daily product at low- and mid-latitudes occur because the satellites being used are not able to provide complete global coverage on a daily basis. Gaps at high-latitudes are caused by sea ice cover preventing the satellite measurement. As an experimental product, the Doldrums product undergoes continual development and refinement to determine the algorithm's best configuration and to test its utility against past bleaching events. The product algorithm has not been changed since its inauguration. The current source wind product from NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC is an experimental product. Any change taking place in the source wind product will alter the quality of the Doldrums product. Source wind data used for making this Doldrums product were changed once after the Doldrums product was first released. The entire Doldrums product was reprocessed, using the new wind data set, and the first version of the Doldrums product was discarded because the new source wind data were at much higher temporal resolution. The description on the Coral Reef Watch web site is for the current version of the Doldrums product. No history of change has been posted on the web yet, as the Doldrums product is still in an early experimental stage.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    none

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none
Use_Constraints: Not intended for legal use. Data may contain low inaccuracies.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    NOAA Coral Reef Watch program
    Attn: NOAA Coral Reef Watch Coordinator
    NOAA, E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5308, 1335 East-West Highway
    Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3226
    USA

    301-713-2857 ext 109 (voice)
    301-713-3136 (FAX)
    coralreefwatch@noaa.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Downloadable Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 20-Dec-2012
Last Reviewed: 15-Aug-2011
Metadata author:
NOAA Coral Reef Watch program
Attn: NOAA Coral Reef Watch Coordinator
NOAA, E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5308, 1335 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3226
USA

301-713-2857 ext 109 (voice)
301-713-3136 (FAX)
coralreefwatch@noaa.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CoRIS CoRIS_ID 20110721073025 CoRIS_Children None CoRIS_Beginning_Date 20040601 CoRIS_Ending_Date 99991231 CoRIS_Metadata_Link <http://www.coris.noaa.gov/metadata/records/html/crw_doldrums_25km_xml_2003_format_20110623.html> CoRIS_Tracking_ID 6331)

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