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Description

This dataset provides 3D coefficients for the Gent-McWilliams and Redi parameterizations and background vertical diffusivity interpolated to a regular 0.5-degree grid from the ECCO Version 4 Release 4 (V4r4) ocean and sea-ice state estimate. Each of these three time-invariant, spatially-varying terms are estimated during the ECCO V4r4 optimization. Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) state estimates are dynamically and kinematically-consistent reconstructions of the three-dimensional, time-evolving ocean, sea-ice, and surface atmospheric states. ECCO V4r4 is a free-running solution of a global, nominally 1-degree configuration of the MIT general circulation model (MITgcm) that has been fit to observations in a least-squares sense. Observational data constraints used in V4r4 include sea surface height (SSH) from satellite altimeters [ERS-1/2, TOPEX/Poseidon, GFO, ENVISAT, Jason-1,2,3, CryoSat-2, and SARAL/AltiKa]; sea surface temperature (SST) from satellite radiometers [AVHRR], sea surface salinity (SSS) from the Aquarius satellite radiometer/scatterometer, ocean bottom pressure (OBP) from the GRACE satellite gravimeter; sea ice concentration from satellite radiometers [SSM/I and SSMIS], and in-situ ocean temperature and salinity measured with conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensors and expendable bathythermographs (XBTs) from several programs [e.g., WOCE, GO-SHIP, Argo, and others] and platforms [e.g., research vessels, gliders, moorings, ice-tethered profilers, and instrumented pinnipeds]. V4r4 covers the period 1992-01-01T12:00:00 to 2018-01-01T00:00:00.

Product Summary

Platforms
MODELS ,
MITgcm
Spatial Extent

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

Spatial Resolution
0.5 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
1992-01-01 to 2018-01-01
Data Partner
Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA (NASA/JPL/PODAAC)
Concept ID
C2013584708-POCLOUD
Data State
COMPLETE
Number of Files/Granules
1
Processing Level
4
Science Keywords
Sea Ice Concentration

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

Fenty, I., & Wang, O. (2020). ECCO Ocean 3D Gent-Mcwilliams, Redi, and Background Vertical Diffusivity Coefficients for the 0.5 degree Lat-Lon Model Grid (Version 4 Release 4) [Data set]. NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/ECG5A-MIX44 Date Accessed: 2026-03-15

Documents

Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor Offset
DIFFKR Background vertical diffusion coefficient for temperature and salinity. Total vertical diffusivity includes background diffusivity plus contributions from the GGL90 vertical mixing and the Gent-McWilliams/Redi parameterizations. Note: DIFFKR is a model control variable and has been optimized from a spatially-invariant first-guess value of 1e-5 m2 s-1. m2 s-1 double 9.9692099683869E+36 9.9999999747524E-7 to 0.00018549950618763 1 N/A
KAPGM Gent-McWilliams diffusivity coefficient as described in Gent and McWilliams (1990, JPO). Note: KAPGM is a model control variable and has been optimized from a spatially invariant first guess of 1e3 m2 s-1. m2 s-1 double 9.9692099683869E+36 100 to 10000 1 N/A
KAPREDI Redi along-isopycnal diffusivity coefficient as described in Redi (1982, JPO). Note: KAPREDI is a model control variable and has been optimized from a spatially invariant first guess of 1e3 m2 s-1. m2 s-1 double 9.9692099683869E+36 100 to 10000 1 N/A
latitude uniform grid spacing from -89.75 to 89.75 by 0.5 degrees_north float N/A N/A 1 N/A
latitude_bnds latitudes of grid cell edges N/A float N/A N/A 1 N/A
longitude uniform grid spacing from -179.75 to 179.75 by 0.5 degrees_east float N/A N/A 1 N/A
longitude_bnds longitudes of grid cell edges N/A float N/A N/A 1 N/A
Z Non-uniform vertical spacing. m float N/A N/A 1 N/A
Z_bnds One pair of bounds for each vertical level. N/A float N/A N/A 1 N/A
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