International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS) Release 3, Monthly Summaries

It is formed by merging many national and international data sources that contain measurements and visual observations from ships (merchant, navy, research), moored and drifting buoys, coastal stations, and other marine platforms. The coverage is global and sampling density varies depending on date and geographic position relative to shipping routes and ocean observing systems.

The monthly summary time series are available at 2-degree (since 1800) and 1-degree (since 1960) spatial resolutions. Observations (22 observed and computed parameters) taken in each month for a give spatial latitude by longitude box are statistically summarized (e.g. mean, median, number of observations, etc) and NOT interpolated or analyzed to fill data voids.