Monthly means of surface winds computed from the FNMOC (Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center) 6-hourly analyzed wind fields on a 360 by 181 global spherical grid (1 degree) are calculated and posted to ERD's Live Access Server a few days after the first of every month. The variables are as follows:

1. Zonal Component of surface wind
2. Meridional Component of surface wind
3. Surface Wind Vector and Magnitude* **
4. Zonal Component of surface wind stress*
5. Meridional Component of surface wind stress*
6. Surface Wind Stress Vector and Curl* **

   * Method: Wind speed and stress are computed for each 6 hour field before averaging.

   ** Note: Vector winds and wind stress are plotted on top of scalar wind magnitude and wind stress curl, however data file downloads will only yield wind magnitude and wind stress curl. To obtain vector quantities of wind speed and stress, you must download the zonal and meridional components separately.

For more information on the models used to compute these data please see:

• Rosmond, T. E., 1992: A prototype fully coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Prediction System, Oceanography Vol. 5, No. 1, 25-30.


• Clancy, R. M., 1992: Operational Modeling: Ocean Modeling at the Fleet Numberical Oceanography Center, Oceanography Vol. 5, No. 1, 31-35.