1 Indicator category

[Fill by hand, needs decision by Council]

2 Indicator name

Sea Surface Temperature - Ocean Model

Includes variable(s): Fall-hindcast, forecast-1, forecast-10, forecast-2, forecast-3, forecast-4, forecast-5, forecast-6, forecast-7, forecast-8, forecast-9, forecast-Ensemble Mean, Spring-hindcast, Summer-hindcast, Winter-hindcast

3 Indicator brief description

The data presented here are seasonal sea surface temperature anomalies for the period 1993-2019 from the MOM6 hindcast ocean model for the Northwest Atlantic. Also shown here are 10-year forecasts of sea surface temperature anomalies (2023-2033) from the MOM6 decadal forecast ocean model for the Northwest Atlantic.

4 Indicator visualization

Here we show seasonal sea surface temperature anomalies in the Mid Atlantic Bight (MAB), Georges Bank (GB) and Gulf of Maine (GOM) EPUs. Data from 1993 through 2019 are from NWA MOM6 ([72]) with a base period for the climatology of 1993 through 2010. We do not compare these anomalies to those from observed OISST as the base period for that dataset is 1982-2010. We also show the 10-year forecast for annual sea surface temperature anomalies in the MAB, GB, and GOM. This forecast is from the decadal forecast of NWA MOM6 ([42]), which was initialized in 2022 and ran for 10 years. The forecast indicates a stagnation in surface temperature warming over the next ten years. Retrospective forecasts, where a forecast is initiated in the past and output is compared to observations, have shown that the NWA MOM6 decadal forecast is able to correctly predict periods of temperature stability and rapid warming in this region ([42]).

5 Indicator documentation

5.1 Are indicators available for others to use (data downloadable)?

## Yes

5.1.1 Where can indicators be found?

## Data: https://noaa-edab.github.io/ecodata/index.html 
## Description:  https://noaa-edab.github.io/catalog/surface_temp_mom6.html 
## Technical documentation:  https://noaa-edab.github.io/tech-doc/surface_temp_mom6.html

5.1.2 How often are they updated? Are future updates likely?

[need sequential look at datasets for update frequency. Future requires judgement]

5.1.3 Who is the contact?

Laura Gruenburg ()

5.2 Gather indicator statistics

5.2.1 Units

## degrees C

5.2.2 Length of time series, start and end date, periodicity

General overview: Winter (January, February, March), Spring (April, May, June), Summer (July, August, September), Fall (October, November, December), and Annual

Indicator specifics:

Indicator

EPU

StartYear

EndYear

NumYears

MissingYears

Fall-hindcast

GB

1993

2019

27

0

Fall-hindcast

GOM

1993

2019

27

0

Fall-hindcast

MAB

1993

2019

27

0

forecast-1

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-1

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-1

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-10

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-10

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-10

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-2

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-2

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-2

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-3

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-3

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-3

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-4

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-4

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-4

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-5

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-5

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-5

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-6

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-6

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-6

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-7

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-7

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-7

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-8

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-8

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-8

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-9

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-9

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-9

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-Ensemble Mean

GB

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-Ensemble Mean

GOM

2023

2032

10

0

forecast-Ensemble Mean

MAB

2023

2032

10

0

Spring-hindcast

GB

1993

2019

27

0

Spring-hindcast

GOM

1993

2019

27

0

Spring-hindcast

MAB

1993

2019

27

0

Summer-hindcast

GB

1993

2019

27

0

Summer-hindcast

GOM

1993

2019

27

0

Summer-hindcast

MAB

1993

2019

27

0

Winter-hindcast

GB

1993

2019

27

0

Winter-hindcast

GOM

1993

2019

27

0

Winter-hindcast

MAB

1993

2019

27

0

5.2.3 Spatial location, scale and extent

General overview: The model data is on a roughly 1/12 degree grid. Here we show the data averaged by EPU.

Indicator specifics:

Indicator

EPU

Fall-hindcast

GB

Fall-hindcast

GOM

Fall-hindcast

MAB

forecast-1

GB

forecast-1

GOM

forecast-1

MAB

forecast-10

GB

forecast-10

GOM

forecast-10

MAB

forecast-2

GB

forecast-2

GOM

forecast-2

MAB

forecast-3

GB

forecast-3

GOM

forecast-3

MAB

forecast-4

GB

forecast-4

GOM

forecast-4

MAB

forecast-5

GB

forecast-5

GOM

forecast-5

MAB

forecast-6

GB

forecast-6

GOM

forecast-6

MAB

forecast-7

GB

forecast-7

GOM

forecast-7

MAB

forecast-8

GB

forecast-8

GOM

forecast-8

MAB

forecast-9

GB

forecast-9

GOM

forecast-9

MAB

forecast-Ensemble Mean

GB

forecast-Ensemble Mean

GOM

forecast-Ensemble Mean

MAB

Spring-hindcast

GB

Spring-hindcast

GOM

Spring-hindcast

MAB

Summer-hindcast

GB

Summer-hindcast

GOM

Summer-hindcast

MAB

Winter-hindcast

GB

Winter-hindcast

GOM

Winter-hindcast

MAB

5.2.4 Management scale: all species, FMP level, species level, can it be aggregated or separated to different scales?

[Classify by hand, note gridded data if available could be applied to different species ranges]

5.2.5 Uncertainty metrics

5.3 Are methods clearly documented to obtain source data and calculate indicators?

## Yes

5.3.1 Can the indicator be calculated from current documentation?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for current and previous methods]

5.3.2 Is code publicly available? up to date?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for current and previous methods]

5.3.3 Have methods changed over time?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for current and previous methods]

5.4 Are indicator underlying source data linked or easy to find?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgements]

5.4.1 Where are source data stored?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgement]

5.4.2 How/by whom are source data updated? Are future updates likely?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgement]

5.4.3 How often are they updated?

[Build link to Tech-doc, look for source, may require judgement]

6 Indicator analysis/testing or history of use

6.1 What decision or advice processes are the indicators currently used in?

This indicator shows seasonal sea surface temperature anomalies from a regional ocean model for the Northwest Atlantic based on the Modular Ocean Model Version 6 (NWA MOM6). The model is at roughly 1/12 a degree horizontal resolution with data from 1993-2019 from a hindcast simulation, which has no data assimilation. Investigating the ability of this model to reproduce key indicators can help us to develop confidence in the model as well as learn where improvements can be made. This indicator also shows 10-year forecasts of annual sea surface temperature anomalies from the decadal forecast of the MOM6 Northwest Atlantic regional ocean model. Understanding how temperatures might change in the future can help us anticipate potential shifts in marine communities.

6.2 What implications of the indicators are currently listed?

Sea surface temperature is important for many marine species that have specific thermal preferences and tolerances. When a region becomes too warm or cool, a species may respond in many ways including by shifting its range or changing its behavior. Understanding how surface temperature may vary in the future can help us anticipate changes to marine communities and living marine resources.

6.3 Do target, limit, or threshold values already exist for the indicator?

[Fill by hand; if not in key results or implications, likely does not exist]

6.4 Have the indicators been tested to ensure they respond proportionally to a change in the underlying process?

[Fill by hand; if not in introduction, key results, or implications, likely not tested]

6.5 Are the indicators sensitive to a small change in the process, or what is the threshold of change that is detectable?

[Fill by hand; if not in introduction, key results, or implications, likely not tested]

6.6 Is there a time lag between the process change and the indicator change? How long?

[Fill by hand; if not in introduction, key results, or implications, likely not tested]

7 Comments

[Fill below by hand once above data complete]

7.2 What additional work would be needed for the Council to use the indicator?

7.3 What issues are caused if there is a gap or delay in data underlying the indicator