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Description

M2TMNXOCN (or tavgM_2d_ocn_Nx) is a time-averaged 2-dimensional monthly mean data collection in Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). This collection consists of ocean surface diagnostics, such as open water skin temperature (sea surface temperature), open water latent energy flux, open water upward sensible heat flux, and open water net downward longwave ( or shortwave ) flux . The collection also includes variance of certain parameters.

MERRA-2 is the latest version of global atmospheric reanalysis for the satellite era produced by NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) using the Goddard Earth Observing System Model (GEOS) version 5.12.4. The dataset covers the period of 1980-present with the latency of ~3 weeks after the end of a month.

Data Reprocessing: Please check “Records of MERRA-2 Data Reprocessing and Service Changes” linked from the “Documentation” tab on this page. Note that a reprocessed data filename is different from the original file.

MERRA-2 Mailing List: Sign up to receive information on reprocessing of data, changing of tools and services, as well as data announcements from GMAO. Contact the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov) to be added to the list.

Questions: If you have a question, please read "MERRA-2 File Specification Document", “MERRA-2 Data Access – Quick Start Guide”, and FAQs linked from the ”Documentation” tab on this page. If that does not answer your question, you may post your question to the NASA Earthdata Forum (forum.earthdata.nasa.gov) or email the GES DISC Help Desk (gsfc-dl-help-disc@mail.nasa.gov).

Version Description

The GEOS-5 model version used for processing MERRA-2

Product Summary

Platforms
MERRA-2
Instruments
NOT APPLICABLE
Projects
MERRA-2
Spatial Extent

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

Spatial Resolution
0.625 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
1980-01-01 to Present
Data Partner
Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (formerly Goddard DAAC), Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/GESDI
Concept ID
C1276812857-GES_DISC
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
556
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Heat Flux ,
Heat Flux ,
Heat Flux ,
Heat Flux ,
Longwave Radiation ,
Longwave Radiation ,
Shortwave Radiation ,
Shortwave Radiation ,
Water Vapor Tendency ,
Water Vapor Flux ,
Cloud Dynamics ,
Cloud Microphysics ,
Snow/Ice ,
Precipitation ,
Specific Humidity ,
Ice Fraction ,
Skin Temperature ,
Sea Surface Skin Temperature ,
Skin Temperature

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

Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, & Pawson, S. (2015). MERRA-2 tavgM_2d_ocn_Nx: 2d,Monthly mean,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Ocean Surface Diagnostics V5.12.4 [Dataset]. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/4IASLIDL8EEC Date Accessed: 2026-06-14

Documents

SHOWING 1 OF 1

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
Ocean Mesoscale Processes Heat Atmosphere Over the Western Boundary Wang, Zhiqiao, Jing, Zhao, Wu, Lixin Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Three-Decade Dust Climatology and Trend (1988-2022) From Ground Shu, Chang, Tong, Daniel Surface Pressure, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Surface Temperature, Humidity, Evaporation, Surface Winds, Convection, Rain, Land Surface Temperature, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Record Warmth and Unprecedented Drop in Equatorial Atlantic Sea Surface Tuchen, Franz Philip, Foltz, Gregory R., Lee, SangKi, Perez, Renellys C., Prigent, Arthur, Brandt, Peter, McPhaden, Michael J., Lopez, Hosmay, Kim, Dongmin, West, Robert Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Springtime Warming by Ocean Advection in the Gulf Stream Ren, Alice S., Todd, Robert E. Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Do coastal or equatorial wind anomalies drive the Indian Ocean Dipole? Kampf, Jochen Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Long term trends in global air pollution potential and its application to ventilation corridors Kannemadugu, Hareef baba shaeb, Dorligjav, Sandelger, Taori, Alok, Bothale, Rajashree Vinod, Chauhan, Prakash Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Population Density, Aerosols, Aerosol Extinction, Aerosol Optical Depth/Thickness, Angstrom Exponent, Aerosol Particle Properties, Carbonaceous Aerosols, Dust/Ash/Smoke, Organic Particles, Sulfate Particles, Sulfur Oxides, Sulfur Compounds, Sulfate, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulfur Oxides, Particulate Matter, Dimethyl Sulfide, Black Carbon, Sea Salt, PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 2.5), PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 10), PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 1.0)
Partial-convolution-implemented generative adversarial network for global oceanic data assimilation Ham, Yoo-Geun, Joo, Yong-Sik, Kim, Jeong-Hwan, Lee, Jeong-Gil Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Foundation Temperature
Remote sensing techniques for monitoring algal blooms in the area between Jeddah and Rabigh on the Red Sea Coast Alharbi, Basma Surface Pressure, Air Temperature, Specific Humidity, Surface Winds, Wind Speed, Geopotential Height, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Evaluating Uncertainty and Modes of Variability for Antarctic Atmospheric Rivers Shields, Christine A., Wille, Jonathan D., Marquardt Collow, Allison B., Maclennan, Michelle, Gorodetskaya, Irina V. Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Atmospheric Ozone, Air Temperature, Precipitation Rate, 24 Hour Maximum Temperature, 24 Hour Minimum Temperature, Skin Temperature, Specific Humidity, Water Vapor, Evaporation, Latent Heat Flux, Latent Heat Flux, Sensible Heat Flux, Diffusion, Surface Winds, Wind Speed, U/V Wind Components, Wind Stress, Wind Stress, Surface Roughness, Planetary Boundary Layer Height, Ice Fraction, Geopotential Height, Altitude, Surface Temperature, Upper Air Temperature, Dew Point Temperature, Cloud Top Temperature, Atmospheric Winds, Surface Winds, Upper Level Winds, U/V Wind Components, Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed, Atmospheric Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Cloud Top Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Oxygen Compounds, Boundary Layer Winds, Potential Vorticity, Vertical Profiles, Relative Humidity, Ozone Profiles, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
A Review of the Impact of Long-term Climate Change on Renewable Energy Ge, Yi, Xu, Yiwei, Shi, Jing, Li, Bingjie, Li, Zesen, Hu, Xiaoyan Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Learning from the past is not enough to survive present and future bleaching threshold temperatures Keshavmurthy, Shashank, Chen, Ting-Ru, Liu, Pei-Jen, Wang, Jih-Terng, Chen, Chaolun Allen Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Spatial and biomass structure of shallow-water cape hake (Merluccius Bahamon, Nixon, Kathena, Johannes N., van der Plas, Anja K., Kainge, Paulus, Paramo, Jorge, Gordoa, Ana Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
Regional climate change impact on coastal tourism: A case study for the black sea coast of Russia Kostianaia, Evgeniia, Kostianoy, Andrey Heat Flux, Air Temperature, Skin Temperature, Specific Humidity, Water Vapor, Precipitation Rate, Snow/Ice, Evaporation, Latent Heat Flux, Latent Heat Flux, Sensible Heat Flux, Diffusion, Surface Winds, Wind Speed, U/V Wind Components, Wind Stress, Wind Stress, Surface Roughness, Planetary Boundary Layer Height, Ice Fraction, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Precipitation, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature, Surface Temperature, Upper Air Temperature, Atmospheric Winds, Surface Winds, Atmospheric Pressure, Sea Level Pressure, Surface Pressure, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water/Ice, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Atmospheric Ozone, Oxygen Compounds, Altitude, Boundary Layer Winds, Precipitation Amount, Snow, Rain
Re-initiation of bottom water formation in the East Sea (Japan Sea) in a warming world Yoon, Seung-Tae, Chang, Kyung-Il, Nam, SungHyun, Rho, TaeKeun, Kang, Dong-Jin, Lee, Tongsup, Park, Kyung-Ae, Lobanov, Vyacheslav, Kaplunenko, Dmitry, Tishchenko, Pavel, Kim, Kyung-Ryul Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Water Vapor Tendency, Water Vapor Flux, Cloud Dynamics, Cloud Microphysics, Snow/Ice, Precipitation, Specific Humidity, Ice Fraction, Skin Temperature, Sea Surface Skin Temperature, Skin Temperature
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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
EFLUXICE EFLUXICE W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
EFLUXWTR EFLUXWTR W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
FRSEAICE FRSEAICE 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
HFLUXICE HFLUXICE W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
HFLUXWTR HFLUXWTR W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
lat lat degrees_north float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
lon lon degrees_east float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
LWGNTICE LWGNTICE W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
LWGNTWTR LWGNTWTR W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
PRECSNOOCN PRECSNOOCN kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
QV10M QV10M kg kg-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
RAINOCN RAINOCN kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SWGNTICE SWGNTICE W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
SWGNTWTR SWGNTWTR W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
T10M T10M K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TAUXICE TAUXICE N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TAUXWTR TAUXWTR N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TAUYICE TAUYICE N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TAUYWTR TAUYWTR N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
time time minutes since 2025-11-01 00:30:00 int32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
TSKINICE TSKINICE K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
TSKINWTR TSKINWTR K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
U10M U10M m s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
V10M V10M m s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_EFLUXICE Var_EFLUXICE W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_EFLUXWTR Var_EFLUXWTR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_FRSEAICE Var_FRSEAICE 1 1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_HFLUXICE Var_HFLUXICE W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_HFLUXWTR Var_HFLUXWTR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWGNTICE Var_LWGNTICE W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_LWGNTWTR Var_LWGNTWTR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_PRECSNOOCN Var_PRECSNOOCN kg m-2 s-1 kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_QV10M Var_QV10M kg kg-1 kg kg-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_RAINOCN Var_RAINOCN kg m-2 s-1 kg m-2 s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGNTICE Var_SWGNTICE W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_SWGNTWTR Var_SWGNTWTR W m-2 W m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_T10M Var_T10M K K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAUXICE Var_TAUXICE N m-2 N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAUXWTR Var_TAUXWTR N m-2 N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAUYICE Var_TAUYICE N m-2 N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TAUYWTR Var_TAUYWTR N m-2 N m-2 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TSKINICE Var_TSKINICE K K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_TSKINWTR Var_TSKINWTR K K float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_U10M Var_U10M m s-1 m s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
Var_V10M Var_V10M m s-1 m s-1 float32 999999986991104 N/A N/A N/A
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