Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Series

Decades of Value from Sea to Space

History

Launched by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in 1998, the Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Series (GNATS) delivers a sustained, multi-decade record of ocean conditions across the Gulf of Maine. By repeatedly sampling the same transect, the time series captures seasonal patterns and long-term shifts in one of the most dynamic ocean regions in the world.

Over more than 25 years, GNATS has become a foundational record of change in seawater temperature, chemistry, and biology. GNATS data demonstrate clear trends in warming waters, increasing acidity, and shifts in biological productivity — providing insight into how the Gulf of Maine is evolving over time.

Importance For Satellite Validation

The high-quality, ship-based measurements that GNATS provides are used to calibrate and validate NASA satellites, ensuring that space-based measurements of ocean color, and the algorithms used to determine productivity and carbon cycling accurately reflect real-world conditions. These validations strengthen satellite data products used by scientists worldwide.

Future

With renewed funding through 2027, GNATS is positioned to support NASA remote sensing efforts and research, improve predictive ocean models, and extend the value of this long-running record as a benchmark for understanding ongoing and future ocean change.

For questions or to collaborate with our research team, please contact Catherine Mitchell, senior research scientist.

Resources

• Full GNATS Data Set
• Summer 2024 Cafe Sci on Satellite Oceanography
• NASA Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Mission