ocean currents

[MacHall]

Are the currents shown surface currents or undercurrents?

[idefix37]

@MacHall
They are supposed to be surface currents as described here:

However I have not been able to find any information about ocean currents data provided by NESDIS / NOAA.

IMHO this data is rather from OSCAR / NASA
https://www.esr.org/research/oscar/
https://www.esr.org/research/oscar/oscar-surface-currents/
https://www.esr.org/research/oscar/data-access/
With a 0.25° grid, the resolution of OSCAR model corresponds effectively to 22km as said by Windy (longitudinally at USA latitude).
By the way earth.nullschool.net show the same type of data:
https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/ocean/primary/waves/overlay=currents/orthographic=-24.59,30.71,412
but it is said provided by OSCAR:
https://earth.nullschool.net/about.html

In case the data is confirmed to be provided by OSCAR, it must be noted that "The model calculates a surface current averaged over the top 30m of the upper ocean".

[idefix37]

@Korina
Please could you check data/provider of Currents layer for correction or confirmation.

[dr.fab]

@idefix37 I don't know where this information about surface current comes from but this is definitely not the best available ...
And this one is far from OSCAR (the one displayed by nullschool)
check out alternative sources like CMEMS sat observed current https://odl.bzh/oKREpF4N

[idefix37]

@dr-fab

Is data available and free?

[Korina]

@idefix37 @MacHall @dr-fab Hello, we plan to update the currents layer in the near future to offer a better data set.