Coastal Water Temperature Observations

Return to Home

Available Data File on this CD-ROM:

10-day and monthly mean (COAST97J)
daily observed temperature (COAST97D)
hourly observed temperature
- Esashi(COAST97H.428)
- Miyako(COAST97H.585)
- Onahama(COAST97H.598)
- Omaezaki(COAST97H.655)
- Hachijojima(COAST97H.678)
- Hamada(COAST97H.755)
- Ishigakijima(COAST97H.918)

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has carried out water temperature observations at stations along the Japanese coast [Map]. Table 2-1 shows the names, the positions and the observation periods of the 21 stations whose data are available in this CD-ROM.

Water temperature had been measured at 10:00 JST (Japan Standard Time) every day with a mercury thermometer until 1970/80s. In 1970/80s, self-recording apparatus with resistance thermometer were introduced at the stations except Sakata in the months shown in Table 2-1. JMA discontinued the observation at Naze on November 1993 and on March 1995 at other 13 stations. Since April 1995, water temperature has been observed at 7 stations: Esashi, Miyako, Onahama, Omaezaki, Hachijojima, Hamada and Ishigakijima. Hourly sampling has been made at the 7 stations since April 1996.

The coastal water temperature data are provided in the files named COAST97J, COAST97D, and COAST97H.nnn, where nnn is the last 3 figures of WMO station index.

COAST97J contains historical time series of 10-day and monthly mean values at the 21 stations during the period shown in Table 2-1. The file consists of half-yearly records which include the first 10-day mean, the second 10-day mean, the last 10-day mean, and the monthly mean in the former or latter half of the year. The records also include the WMO station index, the year and the period indicator: "A" or "B", which indicates the former or latter half of the year. The 10-day or monthly mean value is specified as "999" in case of more than 20% of the data are missing during the period. The format is shown in Table 2-3.

COAST97D contains daily observed temperatures at 10:00 JST at the 21 stations during the period shown in Table 2-2. The file consists of monthly records which include daily observed temperatures in the month, the WMO station index, the year and the month. The format is shown in Table 2-4.

COAST97H.nnn contains hourly observed temperatures at each station for the period from March 1996 to December 1997. The file consists of daily records which contain the temperatures observed every hour from 01 to 24 JST in the day, the WMO station index, the year, the month and the day. The format is shown in Table 2-5.

Table 2-1. List of stations in the file COAST97J and related information.
Station WMO station index Postition
Latitude Longitude
COAST97J Data are available from Introduction of the resistance thermometer COAST97J Data are available to

Wakkanai 47401
45-25 N 141-41E
Sep. 1938 Feb. 1981 Mar. 1995

Suttsu 47421
42-48 N 140-14 E
Jan. 1908 Mar. 1984 Mar. 1995

Urakawa 47426
42-10 N 142-47 E
Nov. 1940 Oct. 1980 Mar. 1995

Esashi 47428
41-52 N 140-08 E
Jan. 1941 Apr. 1984 Dec. 1997

Mombetsu 47435
44-21 N 143-22 E
Jan. 1957 Jul. 1983 Mar. 1995

Miyako 47585
39-39 N 141-58 E
Sep. 1927 Nov. 1978 Dec. 1997

Sakata (Tobishima) 47587
38-54 N 139-51 E
Jan. 1934 - Mar. 1995

Onahama 47598
36-57 N 140-54 E
Jan. 1936 Jun. 1976 Dec. 1997

Wajima 47600
37-23 N 136-54 E
Jan. 1932 Feb. 1978 Mar. 1995

Omaezaki 47655
34-36 N 138-13 E
May 1934 Aug. 1983 Dec. 1997

Tateyama (Mera) 47672
34-59 N 139-52 E
Aug. 1982 Aug. 1982 Mar. 1995

Hachijojima 47678
33-06 N 139-47 E
Jan. 1936 Aug. 1972 Dec. 1997

Saigo 47740
36-12 N 133-20 E
Nov. 1939 Jul. 1983 Mar. 1995

Hamada 47755
34-54 N 132-04 E
Dec. 1941 Jul. 1985 Dec. 1997

Shionomisaki 47778
33-27 N 135-46 E
Jan. 1939 Jul. 1982 Mar. 1995

Shimizu (Ashizuri) 47898
32-43 N 133-01 E
Jan. 1946 Jul. 1983 Mar. 1995

Izuhara 47800
34-12 N 129-18 E
Jan. 1934 Aug. 1986 Mar. 1995

Ushibuka 47838
32-12 N 130-02 E
Jun. 1955 Jun. 1985 Mar. 1995

Naze 47909
28-23 N 129-30 E
Jan. 1939 Jul. 1984 Nov. 1993

Ishigakijima 47918
24-20 N 124-10 E
Jan. 1914 Sep. 1981 Dec. 1997

Naha 47936
26-12 N 127-41 E
Jan. 1936 Jul. 1982 Mar. 1995

Table 2-2. Data available periods of COAST97D and COAST97H.nnn
Station COAST97D Data are available
from to
COAST97H.nnn Data are available
from to

Wakkanai
Feb. 1981 Mar. 1995

- -

Suttsu
Mar. 1984 Mar. 1995

- -

Urakawa
Oct. 1980 Mar. 1995

- -

Esashi
Apr. 1984 Dec. 1997

Mar. 1996 Dec. 1997

Mombetsu
Jul. 1983 Mar. 1995

- -

Miyako
Nov. 1978 Dec. 1997

Mar. 1996 Dec. 1997

Sakata (Tobishima)
Jan. 1961 Mar. 1995

- -

Onahama
May. 1976 Dec. 1997

Mar. 1996 Dec. 1997

Wajima
Jan. 1961 Mar. 1995

- -

Omaezaki
Jan. 1961 Dec. 1997

Mar. 1996 Dec. 1997

Tateyama (Mera)
Aug. 1982 Mar. 1995

- -

Hachijojima
Jan. 1961 Dec. 1997

Mar. 1996 Dec. 1997

Saigo
Jul. 1983 Mar. 1995

- -

Hamada
Jul. 1985 Dec. 1997

Mar. 1996 Dec. 1997

Shionomisaki
Jul. 1982 Mar. 1995

- -

Shimizu (Ashizuri)
Jan. 1961 Mar. 1995

- -

Izuhara
Aug. 1986 Mar. 1995

- -

Ushibuka
Jun. 1985 Mar. 1995

- -

Naze
Jul. 1984 Nov. 1993

- -

Izhigakijima
Jan. 1961 Dec. 1997

Mar. 1996 Dec. 1997

Naha
Jul. 1982 Mar. 1995

- -

Table 2-3. Record format of COAST97J
Element Name Start Pos. Field Type Description of Field

10-Day and Monthly mean water temperature 1 6(4I3) unit; 0.1 degree centigrade. 999: no data. Six cosecutive monthly sets of 1st, 2nd and 3rd 10-day means and monthly mean.

Station Index 73 I3 The last three figures of WMO station index number.

Year 76 I4

Period Indicator 80 A1 "A" means former half of the year. "B" means latter half of the year.

Table 2-4. Record format of COAST97D
Element Name Start Pos. Field Type Description of Field

Station Index 1 I5 WMO station index number.

Year and Month 6 I4,I2

Water temperature 12 31(I3) unit; 0.1 degree centigrade. 999: no data. 31 cosecutive daily observed temperatures.

Table 2-5. Record format of COAST97H.nnn (nnn: Last 3 figures of WMO index number)
Element Name Start Pos. Field Type Description of Field

Station Index 1 I5 WMO station index number.

Year and Month 7 I4,1X,I2

Day 15 I2

Water temperature 15 24(I3) unit; 0.1 degree centigrade. 999: no data. 24 cosecutive daily observed temperatures.

Element Name	Start Pos.	Field Type	Description of Field
10-Day and Monthly mean water temperature	1	6(4I3)	unit; 0.1 degree centigrade. 999: no data. Six cosecutive monthly sets of 1st, 2nd and 3rd 10-day means and monthly mean.
Station Index	73	I3	The last three figures of WMO station index number.
Year	76	I4
Period Indicator	80	A1	"A" means former half of the year. "B" means latter half of the year.

Element Name	Start Pos.	Field Type	Description of Field
Station Index	1	I5	WMO station index number.
Year and Month	6	I4,I2
Water temperature	12	31(I3)	unit; 0.1 degree centigrade. 999: no data. 31 cosecutive daily observed temperatures.