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World Database and World Ocean Atlas The largest and most comprehensive collection of scientific information about the World’s Ocean

NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information maintains both the World Ocean Database and World Ocean Atlas. These are the largest and most comprehensive collection of scientific information about the World’s Ocean. Learn how these indispensable assets are broadening our understanding of and its processes. The World Ocean Database Buoy deployment; credit NOAA

The World Ocean Database (WOD) is a powerful tool for studying climate and the ocean environment. More than 20 years of effort has gone into compiling all available subsurface ocean profile data—recent and historic—to further oceanographic, climatic, and environmental research. The WOD provides easy access to more than 19,000 datasets consisting of millions of water and profiles in a uniform, easy-to-use format. With data from as far back as

Captain Cook’s 1772 voyage, the database also integrates Worldocean Ocean profile Atlas data from approximately 90 Decadal Average: 1955 - 2012 countries collected from buoys, ships, gliders, and other instrumentsContour Interval=2 used to measure the “pulse” of the ocean.

0 30 2 0 60ºN Why is the World Ocean Database 4 2 6 6 8 12 4 24 12 10 10 8 1614 18 14 20 16 18 20 22 Important? 2224 30ºN 24 26

28 18 28 0º 26 24 22 Access to tens of millions of 28 20 12

24 22 quality-controlled profiles30ºS 20 18 18 16 6 16 14 14 12 12 10 10 of WOD data is critical to 8 8 6 24 6 4 60ºS 0 2 0 the continuous monitoring 0 of the changing ocean and 60ºE 120ºE 180º 120ºW 60ºW 0º climate. Ocean heat and salt Annual temperatureAnnual (°C) at the [ºC] surface, at the surface (1/4° (quarter-degree grid). grid) content provide a historical perspective on climate change, both regionally and globally. A water profile, for example, is a snapshot of oceanographic conditions at a precise location and . When combined with other profiles, a view of regional and global changes in the ocean begins to emerge. Measurements of various ocean variables taken at the same time allow for a more holistic understanding of the oceanographic environment.

NOAA ship Rainier; credit NOAA The World Ocean Atlas World Ocean Atlas Climatology Decadal Average: 1955 - 2012 Contour Interval=0.5

32 31 33 30 34 32 222324 26282729 28 The World Ocean Atlas 2021 25 19 202324 1819 2122 29 36 24 32 29 30 35 60ºN 19 25 2827 15161718 26 32 (WOA) provides researchers 121314 272829 33 31 28 24 33323029282726252423 26 3431 35 33 33 36 with the data they need to 37 30ºN 37 35 34 38 38 36 34 35 37 determine the influence of 35 36 34 35 34 0º 34 35 the ocean on Earth’s climate 36 35 33 36 34 36 and environment. It consists 30ºS 35 36 32 of long-term of 34 34 60ºS 34 34 34 31 water temperature, salinity, 34 oxygen, phosphate, silicate, and 60ºE 120ºE 180º 120ºW 60ºW 0º nitrate for annual, seasonal, Annual salinity at theAnnual surface, salinity (1/4° at the grid). surface (quarter-degree grid) and monthly periods, created from the observational data in the World Ocean Database.

There are 102 levels, from the ocean surface to 5,500 meters deep, which can be used in studies of many oceanographic processes. WOA can also be used in high-resolution models or in more accurate quality control of observational data sets. In addition, 1/4° and 1° horizontal resolution versions are available for annual and seasonal temperature and salinity for six decades, as well as monthly for the decadal average. The fine grid resolution enables detailed representation of global and regional temperature and salinity fields in places such as the , high latitudes, and areas near coastlines. Why is the World Ocean Atlas important? Without a baseline for comparison, it is impossible LEARN MORE to understand how the world’s are changing. The atlas provides the information needed for To learn more or to access the World Ocean Database, please visit: many studies including changes in ocean heat, www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/WOD/pr_wod.html dissolved oxygen, and salt content. The worldwide data are an indispensable tool for scientists in their To learn more or to access the World pursuit of understanding the impact of the ocean Ocean Atlas, please visit: on Earth’s climate and environment. www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/woa13/

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October 2015