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Description

This dataset leverages OSCAR (Ocean Surface Current Analyses Real-time) to produce Lagrangian products (namely Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent and Dilation Rate) at multiple spatio-temporal resolutions, ranging from 1 day / 9 km to a 10-year climatological average at 500 km resolution. OSCAR is a global surface current database and NASA funded research project. OSCAR ocean mixed layer velocities are calculated from satellite-sensed sea surface height gradients, ocean vector winds, and sea surface temperature gradients using a simplified physical model for geostrophy, Ekman, and thermal wind dynamics. Daily averaged surface currents are provided on a global 0.25 x 0.25 degree grid as an average over an assumed well-mixed top 30 m of the ocean.

Product Summary

Platforms
MODELS
Instruments
Computer
Spatial Extent

N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180

Geographic Region
GLOBAL OCEAN
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2000-01-01 to 2009-12-31
Data Partner
Ocean Exploration, Remote Sensing and Biogeography Laboratory; College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment; University of Delaware (UDEL/CEOE/ORB_LAB) ,
Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC), Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/OB.DAAC)
Concept ID
C3534746437-OB_CLOUD
Data State
COMPLETE
Number of Files/Granules
284
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Finite Time Lyapunov Exponent ,
Lagrangian Feature

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group. (2025). OSCAR Global Mapped Eulerian and Lagrangian Oceanography and Ecology Variables Data, version 1 [Data set]. NASA Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/OSCAR/L4M/ELOEV/1 Date Accessed: 2025-12-14

Documents

Variables

Variables are a set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior of something. For example, temperature and pressure are variables of the atmosphere. Parameters and variables can be used interchangeably. Variable level attributes provide individual information for each variable.

The Name in this table is the variable name. Fill value indicates missing or undefined data points in a variable. Valid range is the range of values the variable can store. Scale factor is used to increase or decrease the size of an object and can be used to correct for distortion. For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor
Delta Delta 1/day float32 -999 -10 to 10 N/A
ftle ftle 1/day float32 -999 -10 to 10 N/A
latitude latitude degrees_north float64 N/A -90 to 90 N/A
longitude longitude degrees_east float64 N/A -180 to 180 N/A
time time seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 int32 N/A N/A N/A
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