Please note: Due to browser FTP deprecation, users will no longer be able to access NCEI data via browser FTP clients. Users may access data via NCEI Web Accessible Folders and/or FTP client supported applications. We apologize for any inconvenience. See this document as reference.
Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST)
The Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) dataset is a global monthly sea surface temperature analysis derived from the International Comprehensive Ocean–Atmosphere Dataset with missing data filled in by statistical methods. This monthly analysis begins in January 1854 continuing to the present and includes anomalies computed with respect to a 1971–2000 monthly climatology.
Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) v5
- The newest version of ERSST is version v5. Major improvements in v5 include: 1) Inclusion and use of new sources and new versions of input datasets, such as data from Argo floats (new source), ICOADS R3.0 (from R2.5), HadISST2 (from HadISST1) sea ice concentration, and 2) Improved methodologies, such as inclusion of additional statistical modes, less spatial-temporal smoothing, better quality control method, and bias correction with baseline to modern buoy observations. The new version improves the spatial structures and magnitudes of El Nino and La Nina events.
Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) v4
- The ERSST version v4 is produced on a 2° × 2° grid with spatial completeness enhanced using statistical methods. Version 4, is based on optimally tuned parameters using the latest datasets and improved analysis methods.
Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) v3b
- The ERSST version 3b is optimally tuned to exclude under-sampled regions for global averages. In contrast to version 3, ERSST v3b does not include satellite data, which were found to cause a cold bias significant enough to change the rankings of months.
