Sea Surface Temperature and Directional Wave Spectra During the 2023 Marine Heatwave in the North Atlantic

In 2023, an unprecedented marine heatwave (MHW) developed in the North Atlantic. MHWs have severe ecological and socioeconomic impacts, and their increasing frequency and intensity demand urgent action from climate scientists and policymakers. The characterisation of MHWs requires high-resolution observations not only of ocean temperature, but also of its physical drivers, such as wind and ocean waves. However, acquiring co-located, in-situ measurements of these variables remains logistically challenging, and data scarcity continues to hinder efforts to fully understand and model MHW dynamics. Here, we present a unique dataset collected by a freely drifting buoy off the west coast of Ireland during the peak of the 2023 MHW event. The dataset includes 1-minute sea surface temperature (SST) and position records, directional wave spectra, wind speed estimates, and derived wave parameters. These data provide an unique opportunity to analyse air–sea interactions during a MHW at fine temporal scales. They are intended to support coupled model validation, diurnal warming studies, and data assimilation efforts, ultimately contributing to improved understanding and forecasting of MHW.2023年，北大西洋海域出现了史无前例的海洋热浪（marine heatwave, MHW）。海洋热浪具有严重的生态与社会经济影响，其发生频率日益升高、强度不断升级的态势，迫切需要气候科学家与政策制定者采取紧急应对举措。对海洋热浪的特征表征，不仅需要高分辨率的海洋温度观测数据，还需获取其物理驱动因子的相关观测资料，例如风速与海浪。然而，同步获取这些变量的原位（in-situ）实测数据仍面临诸多实操层面的挑战，数据匮乏持续阻碍学界全面理解并建模海洋热浪动力学机制的相关研究。本文呈现了一套独特的数据集：该数据集由2023年海洋热浪峰值期间，在爱尔兰西海岸附近自由漂移的浮标采集获得。数据集包含1分钟分辨率的海表面温度（sea surface temperature, SST）与位置记录、方向波谱、风速估算结果，以及衍生海浪参数。这些数据为精细时间尺度下的海洋热浪期间海-气相互作用分析提供了宝贵的研究契机。本数据集旨在支撑耦合模式验证、日增温研究以及数据同化相关工作，最终助力学界深化对海洋热浪的理解与预报能力。