Download AMIP II Observed SST & Sea Ice Data at 1x1 Degree Resolution

These data sets are NOT to be used directly as boundary conditions in AMIP II simulations. More information concerning the AMIP II boundary conditions is available. The data sets will be periodically updated to near-present (every 6 months, or so). Latest update: 2013-05-01.

Please register so that any forthcoming information concerning these data sets can be sent to you.

The observational data set was made available by NCAR and was constructed following the procedure described by Hurrell et al. (2008) [Hurrell, J.W., J.J. Hack, D. Shea, J.M. Caron, and J. Rosinski, 2008: A New Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Boundary Dataset for the Community Atmosphere Model. J. Climate, 21, 5145–5153. doi: 10.1175/2008JCLI2292.1 ]

Note that earlier versions of this dataset (available prior to 2007) were prepared following a different procedure described in a web document. There are differences between the earlier dataset and the present one which are generally small but not entirely negligible.

PLEASE NOTE: Data downloaded between approximately November 2003 and January 2007 may be incorrect for months following July 2002 (the data values were offset in the longitudinal direction). We apologize for this mistake.