6. CCI Ocean Surface
 Heat Flux

Summary

Part of ESA’s Climate Change Initiative, this project develops a new climate data record for total Ocean Surface Heat Flux (OSHF), a key variable in understanding Earth’s energy balance and climate change. Unlike existing products, this record is derived from fundamental energy conservation principles and changes in ocean heat content within the upper ocean layer (Mixed Layer), an approach that addresses limitations in current in situ and satellite-based flux estimates, reduces uncertainties, and avoids uncertain parameterisations.

The project will deliver an 18-year time series (2011–2028) of daily global products at 25 km resolution, including estimates of Ocean Surface Heat Content integrated over the Mixed Layer Depth.

Accurate OSHF estimates are essential to close the ocean energy budget and improve climate models. The project supports GCOS requirements and responds to key knowledge gaps identified by the IPCC and WCRP, particularly regarding heat uptake by the ocean, central to understanding climate change.

Our contribution

We act as prime contractor for the project, leading both project management and the systems development group. We also brought to the table the innovative scientific approach behind the project: a kinematic method based on satellite-observed changes in ocean surface thermal properties, moving beyond the limitations of traditional thermodynamic flux estimation.

Key activities:

• Prime contractor role across the consortium.
• Project management.
• Systems development group lead.
• Scientific input on the kinematic flux estimation approach.
• Coordination with international science partners.
• Knowledge transfer to climate research and IPCC-relevant analyses.

Dates

• Initial duration: 3 years (with possible extension to 6–8 years).
• Time series scope: 2011–2028 (18 years).
• Spatial resolution: 25 km, daily global products.
• Status: Ongoing.

Partners

• Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) — Spain · Science Lead, Algorithm Development Group.
• Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR-CNR) — Italy · Climate Research Group lead.
• University of Vienna (UoV) — Austria · Validation Group lead.
• National Oceanography Centre (NOC) — UK · Climate Research and Validation support.
• European Space Agency (ESA) — funding agency.

Related links

• Ocean Surface Heat Flux project (ESA CCI)