The International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS) is a global ocean marine meteorological and surface ocean dataset. 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.

IMPORTANT: The time period of data available is defined in two segments.

• ICOADS Monthly Summary Release 2.5 covers 1800 through 2007
• All data following the Release 2.5 end date is based exclusively on real-time GTS data with minimal quality control. These data should be considered preliminary and will be subject to change in new Releases of ICOADS