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The Coral Reef Temperature Anomaly Database (CoRTAD) Version 3 - Global, 4 km Sea Surface Temperature and Related Thermal Stress Metrics for 1982-2009 (NCEI Accession 0068999)

Metadata Updated: December 1, 2023

The Coral Reef Temperature Anomaly Database (CoRTAD) is a collection of sea surface temperature (SST) and related thermal stress metrics, developed specifically for coral reef ecosystem applications but relevant to other ecosystems as well. The CoRTAD Version 2 contains global, approximately 4 km resolution SST data on a weekly time scale from 1982 through 2009. It is related to the CoRTAD Version 2 (NCEI Accession 0054501), but contains one additional year of data (2009). Version 2 was created in 2009 with a few important updates to the CoRTAD Version 1 (NCEI Accession 0044419). Whereas Version 1 covers the time period from 1985-2005, Version 2 contains 6 additional years of data, extending that period to 1982-2008. Also, whereas Version 1 is in HDF4 Scientific Data Set format, Version 2 is in HDF5 format.

In addition to SST, the CoRTAD contains SST anomaly (SSTA, weekly SST minus weekly climatological SST), thermal stress anomaly (TSA, weekly SST minus the maximum weekly climatological SST), SSTA Degree Heating Week (SSTA_DHW, sum of previous 12 weeks when SSTA >= 1 degree C), SSTA Frequency (number of times over the previous 52 weeks that SSTA >= 1 degree C), TSA DHW (TSA_DHW, also known as Degree Heating Week, sum of previous 12 weeks when TSA >= 1 degree C), and TSA Frequency (number of times over previous 52 weeks that TSA >=1 degree C). The CoRTAD was created at the NOAA National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) in partnership with the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, with support from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program.

The purpose of the CoRTAD is to provide sea surface temperature data and related thermal stress parameters with good temporal consistency, high accuracy, and fine spatial resolution. The CoRTAD is intended primarily for climate and ecosystem related applications and studies and was designed specifically to address questions concerning the relationship between coral disease and bleaching and temperature stress.

Access & Use Information

License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Date 2023-10-06T17:18:26Z
Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
Metadata Updated Date December 1, 2023
Reference Date(s) December 1, 2010 (publication)
Frequency Of Update asNeeded

Metadata Source

Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

Graphic Preview

Graphic not available.

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Date 2023-10-06T17:18:26Z
Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
Metadata Updated Date December 1, 2023
Reference Date(s) December 1, 2010 (publication)
Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
Contact Email
Guid gov.noaa.nodc:0068999
Access Constraints Cite as: Casey, Kenneth S.; US National Oceanographic Data Center (2010). The Coral Reef Temperature Anomaly Database (CoRTAD) Version 3 - Global, 4 km Sea Surface Temperature and Related Thermal Stress Metrics for 1982-2009 (NCEI Accession 0068999). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0068999. Accessed [date]., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Bbox East Long 180
Bbox North Lat 90
Bbox South Lat -90
Bbox West Long -180
Coupled Resource
Frequency Of Update asNeeded
Graphic Preview Description Graphic not available.
Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0068999
Graphic Preview Type PNG
Harvest Object Id 5907924f-0de1-4213-a968-7cea8b10d778
Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
Licence accessLevel: Public
Lineage
Metadata Language eng
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
Progress completed
Spatial Data Service Type
Spatial Reference System
Spatial Harvester True
Temporal Extent Begin 1982-01-01
Temporal Extent End 2009-12-31

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