How it works: Oceanographic layers

Starboard provides oceanographic and meteorological information to provide context to vessel movements. This information is displayed on the map in high, medium, and low resolutions depending on the map’s zoom.

Oceanographic data can be added to the map display through the layers menu (three stacked squares next to the plus-minus button at the top right of the map). Expand Oceanographic layers and select the desired one.

The chlorophyll a layer displays the mass concentration of chlorophyll a in the top 1m of sea water. We display data derived from the Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Analysis and Forecast, produced by Mercator Ocean International and distributed by the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service.

Update frequency: Every Thursday at 01:00 UTC.

Spatial resolution: medium, and low; derived from a 0.25 × 0.25 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily.

Notes: analysis data (hindcasts) has up to 7 days (UTC) delay. We display forecast data when analyses are not yet available.

The ice concentration layer displays the fraction of sea ice covering a specific area. We display data derived from the Global Ocean Physics Analysis and Forecast produced by Mercator Ocean International and distributed by the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service.

Update frequency: Daily at 13:00 UTC

Spatial resolution: high, medium, and low; derived from a 0.083 × 0.083 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily

Notes: analysis data (hindcasts) has up to 7 days (UTC) delay. We display forecast data when analyses are not yet available.

Sea surface temperature is tuned to represent the water temperature at 1 m depth. We display data derived from the Global Ocean OSTIA Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Analysis produced by MetOffice (UK) and published by the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information or NASA’s EarthData. Prior to March 6, 2024 we display data from the Level 4 sea surface temperature analysis produced by the United States’ Naval Oceanographic Office as part of the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST).

Update frequency: Daily at 13:00 UTC.

Spatial resolution: high, medium, and low; derived from a 0.1 × 0.1 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily.

Notes: analysis data has up to 2 days (UTC) delay. We display the last available data when analyses are not yet available.

Total wave height (technically known as total significant wave height) is the combined height of swell and sea waves. It is designed to represent what a mariner observes when estimating the wave height visually. We display data derived from the Global Ocean Waves Analysis and Forecast model by the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information.

Update frequency: Daily at 01:00 UTC.

Spatial resolution: high, medium, and low; derived from a 0.083 × 0.083 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily average; derived from 3-hourly forecasts.

Delay: analysis data has up to 1.5 days (UTC) delay. We display forecast data when analyses are not yet available.

Wind velocity corresponds to the wind speed and direction at a height of 10 m above the ground. We display data derived from the Global Forecast System analysis and forecast grids, which are maintained by the United States’ National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

Update frequency: Daily at 06:00 UTC.

Spatial resolution: medium and low; derived from a 0.25 × 0.25 degree grid.

Temporal resolution: daily average; derived from 6-hourly forecasts.

Delay: analysis data (which includes all of the available observational data taken during the specified period) has up to 2 days (UTC) delay. We display forecast data when analyses are not yet available.

We analyse and display layers in 3 resolutions based on a hexagonal geospatial grid.