Ocean Currents
NOAA OSCAR - Ocean Surface Current Analysis Real-time
Coverage: Global oceans · Update frequency: Every 5 days · Format: NetCDF
Overview
NOAA's OSCAR (Ocean Surface Current Analysis Real-time) provides estimates of ocean surface currents derived from satellite measurements of sea surface height, wind, and temperature. This reveals major ocean circulation patterns.
How Sentinela Uses This Data
Ocean currents are visualized as animated particle flows, similar to wind animation. Particles follow current vectors, revealing features like the Gulf Stream, Kuroshio, and equatorial currents.
Data Processing
Current data is fetched from NOAA ERDDAP servers. We interpolate to our display grid and animate particles following the current vectors.
Limitations & Considerations
OSCAR provides near-surface currents which may differ from deeper flows. Resolution is coarse (~1/3°) so coastal and small-scale features may not be captured. Data is updated every 5 days.