North West Shelf sea surface temperature extreme variability mean and anomaly (observations)

'''DEFINITION'''

The OMI_EXTREME_SST_NORTHWESTSHELF_sst_mean_and_anomaly_obs indicator is based on the computation of the 99th and the 1st percentiles from in situ data (observations). It is computed for the variable sea surface temperature measured by in situ buoys at depths between 0 and 5 meters. The use of percentiles instead of annual maximum and minimum values, makes this extremes study less affected by individual data measurement errors. The percentiles are temporally averaged, and the spatial evolution is displayed, jointly with the anomaly in the target year. This study of extreme variability was first applied to sea level variable (Pérez Gómez et al 2016) and then extended to other essential variables, sea surface temperature and significant wave height (Pérez Gómez et al 2018).

'''CONTEXT'''

Sea surface temperature (SST) is one of the essential ocean variables affected by climate change (mean SST trends, SST spatial and interannual variability, and extreme events). In Europe, several studies show warming trends in mean SST for the last years (von Schuckmann, 2016; IPCC, 2021, 2022). An exception seems to be the North Atlantic, where, in contrast, anomalous cold conditions have been observed since 2014 (Mulet et al., 2018; Dubois et al. 2018; IPCC 2021, 2022). Extremes may have a stronger direct influence in population dynamics and biodiversity. According to Alexander et al. 2018 the observed warming trend will continue during the 21st Century and this can result in exceptionally large warm extremes. Monitoring the evolution of sea surface temperature extremes is, therefore, crucial. The North-West Self area comprises part of the North Atlantic, where this refreshing trend has been observed, and the North Sea, where a warming trend has been taking place in the last three decades (e.g. Høyer and Karagali, 2016).

'''COPERNICUS MARINE SERVICE KEY FINDINGS'''

The mean 99th percentiles showed in the area present a range from 14-15ºC in the North of the British Isles, 16-19ºC in the West of the North Sea to 19-20ºC in the Helgoland Bight. The standard deviation ranges from 0.7-0.8ºC in the North of the British Isles, 0.6-2ºC in the West of the North Sea to 0.8-3ºC in in the Helgoland Bight. Results for this year show positive moderate anomalies (+0.3/+1.0ºC) in all the positions except in one station in the West of the Noth Sea where the anomaly is negative (-0.3ºC), all of them inside the standard deviation margin.

'''DOI (product):''' https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00274