Ocean maps and data

Ocean observations underpin marine weather forecasting and detection of global climate change. The Bureau's network of observing systems provide a range of marine and ocean information which allows the public, marine communities and marine-dependent industries to make informed decisions.

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Recent and historical sea temperature analysis

Plots of sea surface temperature (SST) analyses at daily, weekly, and monthly intervals, surrounding Australia, near-by oceanic regions, and the globe are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Recent sea surface temperature analyses

Daily SST maps for Australia and Australian coastal regions
Weekly averages of SST for the Pacific and Indian oceans
Weekly SST anomalies for the Pacific Ocean
Global maps showing daily, weekly and monthly SST means and anomalies, and differences from recent monthly mean SSTs

Monthly sub-surface temperature analyses (1995–present)

Pacific Ocean 150 m depth-averaged temperature analysis
Equatorial Pacific Ocean vertical section temperature analysis
Global 150 m depth-averaged temperature analysis, with observation locations
Analysis of the monthly mean 20 °C isotherm depth
4-month sequence of 150 m depth-averaged temperature anomalies
4-month sequence of vertical temperature anomaly sections of the equatorial Pacific

For real-time data: webreg@bom.gov.au

For archived data and further information, please send a request.

Waverider buoy observations

The Bureau has Waverider™ buoys at Cape du Couedic and Cape Sorrell.

Tables of the latest observations can be found for Cape du Couedic and Cape Sorrell.

For archived data and further information, please send a request.

Sea surface temperature anomalies and trends

The Bureau provides maps and plots of the annual, monthly and seasonal state of sea surface temperatures (SST) based on the NOAA Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature Version 3 for the Australian oceanic region.
Details: About average SST maps, about SST trend maps, about SST timeseries.

Sea surface temperature averages and trends

Annual and seasonal mean SST maps (1961–1990 averages)
Annual and seasonal mean SST trend maps for periods starting each decade (1900 to 1970) to near-present
Timeseries of annual, seasonal and monthly SST anomalies (relative to 1961–1990) from 1900 to present

For archived data and further information, please send a request.

Sea level and associated meteorological statistics

As part of the Australian Baseline Sea Level Monitoring Project (ABSLMP) the National Tidal Unit maintains an array of SEA–Level Fine Resolution Acoustic Measuring Equipment stations, which measure sea level and record meteorological parameters. The array consists of fourteen standard stations, and two supplementary stations owned by port operators (Lorne and Stony Point). Monthly and hourly sea level and meteorological observations, statistics and annual reports are available for a range of parameters.
Details: ABSLMP data.

Information about sea level, barometric pressure, water temperature, air temperature and wind are provided in plots, tables and reports.

Monthly Data Reports
Monthly Sea Level and Meteorological Statistics
Hourly Sea Level and Meteorological Data

For information: tides@bom.gov.au

Station observations

Coastal observations for a range of elements such as wind, waves and swell are available from coastal weather stations in the Bureau's network.
Details: About coastal observations.

The most recent three days of coastal observations are linked from the state observations pages. NSW | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | NT

You can generate a list of stations which record this information using the Station network search.

Please add the station details when you send a request.

For archived data or information

Send a request

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OceanMAPS model forecasts

The Bureau delivers ocean forecasts created under the BLUElink project. The forecast model, OceanMAPS (Ocean Modelling, Analysis, and Prediction System, version 2.0), produces information on recent ocean conditions and forecasts out to seven days in advance for the Australian region.
Details: OceanMAPS metadata.

Maps of recent ocean conditions and forecasts for

Sea surface temperature
Sea surface salinity
Sea level anomaly
Sea surface temperature and currents
Sea level anomaly and currents

For real-time access: webreg@bom.gov.au

For archived data and further information, please send a request.

Great Barrier Reef forecast sea surface temperatures

The Bureau's seasonal prediction model POAMA (Predictive Ocean Atmosphere Model for Australia) produces forecasts of sea surface temperature anomalies for the Great Barrier Reef for the upcoming six months. See: Coral bleaching forecasts.
Details: About coral bleaching forecasts, about POAMA

For information: poama@bom.gov.au

AUSWAVE wave forecasts

The Bureau produces operational wave forecasts for Australia and the global domain using the AUSWAVE model. Recent wave forecasts are available for a range of elements out to seven days.
Details: AUSWAVE metadata page.

Maps of recent wave condtions and forecasts

Primary and secondary swell height and direction
Peak wave period
Wind wave height and direction
Significant wind wave height and direction

For real-time data access: webreg@bom.gov.au

For archived data and further information, please send a request.

Hourly thirty-year wave high resolution analysis

The Bureau, in collaboration with CSIRO, has produced a high-resolution wave hindcast covering a thirty-year period. The hindcast was created using the WAVEWATCH III™ model forced with Climate Forecast System Reanalysis surface winds. The hindcast produces hourly, two-dimensional gridded outputs for a variety of wave parameters and wave related parameters including:

Significant wave height
Peak period
Mean period
Partitioned wave details
Stresses
Stokes drift
Energy density spectrum

The dataset is available as gridded datasets or text format for point based data sets.

For data and further information, please send a request.

Australian Wave Model

Prior to AUSWAVE wave forecasts, the Bureau produced gridded wave forecasts using the Australian Wave Model (WAM). Forecasts using this model are available for the period 2003–2009, covering a range of ocean and wave conditions, at twice-daily timesteps.
Details: WAM metadata page.

For archived data and further information, please send a request.

Tide predictions

The Bureau, through the National Tidal Unit, generates a range of tidal information products for Australia, offshore and Pacific sites, and Antarctica. These products include information on past tidal conditions, tidal predictions up to two years into the future, and archived predictions to the beginning of the previous calendar year.
Details: About the National Tidal Unit.

For data or information: tides@bom.gov.au