Global Change Master Directory (GCMD)

Data Sets

Services / Tools

Ancillary Descriptions

Are you using a browser that doesn't support JavaScript or have you disabled JavaScript?

If you have disabled JavaScript, you must re-enable JavaScript to use this page.
Or you can view this record using the Text Only Format.

IGOSS Sea Level Program in the Pacific
Entry ID: ISLP-PAC

[ Get Data ]
[ Update this Record ]

Summary

Abstract: Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS)
IGOSS Sea Level Program in the Pacific (ISLP-Pac)

The IGOSS Sea Level Program in the Pacific was established for the
purpose of making monthly mean sea level data available to a wide
circle of users in a timely fashion, and to generate products that
would be valuable for scientific analysis of climate-related
processes. A pilot project started in June, 1984 and a permanent
program was established in 1988. During the pilot project and in the
first year of the permanent program, maps of the sea level deviations
from the mean sea level were produced without fail beginning in June
1984 (ISLPP.DEVIATIONS, see below). In January 1988, maps were
produced of the anomaly of sea level from the 1975 to 1986 mean annual
cycle of sea level (ISLPP.ANOMALIES). This anomaly is also corrected
for the inverted barometer effect using the atmospheric pressure
fields computed at the National Meteorological Center.

Beginning in 1997, the mean sea level and annual cycle are referenced
to the period 1975 - 1995. Data from previous years have been updated
using the new reference means.

In addition to these basic products, additional products were
developed during the pilot project. These products include time series
of the volume of the tropical Pacific Ocean (ISLPP.VOLUME, published
quarterly) and indices of the equatorial current system
(ISLPP.CURRENTS and ISLPP.TOPOGRAPHY, published annually). The volume
time series has received much attention because of its importance for
El Nino prediction and analysis.

The time series at each station is preceded by one header record,
which includes the station name and location, followed by a series of
data records, each containing data for one year. These data records
contain the station name, the year and the 12 monthly values of the
appropriate quantity.

ISLPP.DEVIATIONS

This file contains the time series of the deviations of sea level from
the 1975 to 1995 mean sea level value computed at each station. The
time series cover the period 1975 to 1997. Large linear trends were
found at five stations and are corrected for in this dataset. The five
stations affected are Kushimoto, Aburatsu, and Naha in Japan, Davao in
the Philippines, and Seldovia in Alaska.

ISLPP.PC_DEVIATIONS

This file contains the time series of the pressure-corrected
deviations of sea level from the 1975 through 1995 mean sea level
value computed at each station. The time series cover the period 1975
through 1997. Large linear trends were found at five stations and are
corrected for in this data set. The five stations affected are Davao
in the Philippines, Kushiro in Japan Suva in Fiji and Seldovia,
Yakutat in Alaska. Units for the pressure-corrected sea level
deviations are millimeters, and missing data points are set to a value
of 9999.

ISLPP.ANOMALIES

This file contains the anomalies of sea level corrected for the
atmospheric pressure. Anomalies of sea level are computed by
subtracting the mean annual cycle of the sea level variation that is
estimated using data from 1975 to 1995. Atmospheric pressure
corrections are derived from the fields computed at the National
Meteorological Center. The time series of the pressure-corrected sea
level anomaly cover the period 1975 to 1997. Large linear trends were
found at five stations and are corrected for in this dataset. The five
stations affected are Kushimoto, Aburatsu, and Naha in Japan, Davao in
the Philippines, and Seldovia in Alaska.

ISLPP.CURRENTS and ISLPP.TOPOGRAPHY

These files contain indices of the equatorial Pacific currents and
estimates of the equatorial ridge and trough topography that are used
to derive the current indices. Current indices are provided for the
North Equatorial Countercurrent, the North Equatorial Current, and for
the portions of the South Equatorial Current lying north and south of
the equator. The current indices are computed by perturbing the
meridional profile of mean surface dynamic height with the monthly
mean time series of the sea level variations and calculating the
appropriate ridge to trough difference for each current for each
month. The mean values of the indices have not been removed from the
time series. The calculation of these indices is discussed in greater
detail in Wyrtki (74); see reference section.

ISLPP.VOLUME

This file contains the monthly time series of the variations in the
upper layer volume of the tropical Pacific between 15N and 15S. The
volume is computed from a gridded field of the sea level deviations
via a one and a half layer approximation for the vertical structure of
the tropical Pacific. Further details of the calculation are given by
Wyrtki (87); see reference section. The units for the volume changes
are 10 to the 12th cubic meters, and the variations are relative to a
mean value of about 7000 of these units. The annual cycle has not been
removed from the volume deviation time series.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Data is distributed by anonymous ftp:
"ftp://ilikai.soest.hawaii.edu"

and cd to the islp directory.

Alternate ftp (users have had some difficulty with alphanumeric version):
"ftp://128.171.153.56"

There are seven files available: README, ISLPP.DEVIATIONS,
ISLPP.PC_DEVIATIONS, ISLPP.ANOMALIES, ISLPP.CURRENTS,
ISLPP.TOPOGRAPHY, and ISLPP.VOLUME. The README file contains a
somewhat more detailed version of the information given in this
summary.

We ask that you help the University of Hawaii monitor the success of
their effort to enhance the access to IGOSS products. To do this,
please let them know what data you have copied, and make comments or
suggestions for improvement. You can send mail messages to Mark
Merrifield (markm@soest.hawaii.edu), or to Shikiko Nakahara
(nakahara@kia.soest.hawaii.edu).

If you cannot use the anonymous ftp, contact the University of Hawaii
using the information given below in the personnel section.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA
Description: Real Time Sea Level Data from the University of Hawaii Sea Level
Center

Link: GET DATA
Description: Research quality sea level data from University of Hawaii Sea
Level Center

Link: GET DATA
Description: Fast-delivery Sea Level Data from the University of Hawaii Sea
Level Center

Link: GET DATA
Description: IGOSS Sea Level Data from the University of Hawaii Sea Level
Center

Geographic Coverage

N: 50.0 S: -15.0 E: -80.0 W: 120.0

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1975-01-01

Location Keywords

OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN

Science Keywords

OCEANS >COASTAL PROCESSES >SEA SURFACE HEIGHT >SEA LEVEL    [Definition]

OCEANS >COASTAL PROCESSES >TIDAL HEIGHT    [Definition]

OCEANS >OCEAN CIRCULATION >OCEAN CURRENTS >CURRENT INDEX    [Definition]

OCEANS >OCEAN CIRCULATION >OCEAN CURRENTS >CURRENT INDICES    [Definition]

OCEANS >SEA SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY >SEA SURFACE HEIGHT >SEA LEVEL    [Definition]

OCEANS >SEA SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY >SEA SURFACE HEIGHT >SEA LEVEL ANOMALIES    [Definition]

OCEANS >TIDES >TIDAL HEIGHT    [Definition]

CLIMATE INDICATORS >ATMOSPHERIC/OCEAN INDICATORS >TELECONNECTIONS >EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) >ENSO    [Definition]

ISO Topic Category

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE
ELEVATION
OCEANS

Instrument

TIDE GAUGES [Information]

Project

IGOSS >Integrated Global Ocean Services System [Information]

Keywords

sea level anomalies

Originating Center

UH

Data Center

Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii [Information]
Data Center URL: http://ilikai.soest.hawaii.edu/JIMAR/
Dataset ID: ISLP-PAC > ISLPP.DEVIATIONS

Data Center Personnel

Name: SHIKIKO NAKAHARA
Phone: 808-956-8728
Fax: 808-956-2352
Email: nakahara at kia.soest.hawaii.edu
Contact Address:
University of Hawaii
Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research
1000 Pope Road
Marine Sciences Building, Room 312
City: Honolulu
Province or State: Hawaii
Postal Code: 96822
Country: USA

Sea Level Center, Oceanography Department, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii [Information]
Data Center URL: http://uhslc.soest.hawaii.edu/

Data Center Personnel

Name: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SEA LEVEL CENTER
Phone: (808) 956-8083
Fax: (808) 956-2352
Contact Address:
UH Sea Level Center
University of Hawaii
1000 Pope Road, MSB 317
City: Honolulu
Province or State: Hawaii
Postal Code: 96822-2336
Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution_Media: FTP

Personnel

MARK MERRIFIELD
Role: INVESTIGATOR
Phone: 808-956-6161
Fax: 808-956-2352
Email: markm at soest.hawaii.edu
Contact Address:
UH Sea Level Center
University of Hawaii
1000 Pope Road, MSB 317
City: Honolulu
Province or State: Hawaii
Postal Code: 96822-2336
Country: USA

CHRISTINA J. LIEF
Role: DIF AUTHOR
Phone: +1 (828) 271-4101
Email: christina.lief at noaa.gov
Contact Address:
Program Manager
Global Observing Systems Information Center (GOSIC)
NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC - Room 459
City: Asheville, NC
Province or State: NC
Postal Code: 28801
Country: USA

Publications/References

Wyrtki,Klaus, 'Water displacements in the Pacific and the genesis of El Nino',
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, vol.90, no.c4, pp. 7129-7132, 1985.

Wyrtki,Klaus, 'Equatorial Currents in the Pacific 1950 to 1970 and their
relation to the trade winds', JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, Vol.4,
pp.372-380, July 1974.

Creation and Review Dates

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-04-20

[ Update this Record ]