HR: 14:30h
AN: OS23H-03 INVITED [Abstracts]
TI: Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Real-Time Ocean Forecasting System off the California Coast
AU: * Chao, Y
EM: Yi.Chao@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AU: Li, Z
EM: zhijin@pacific.jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AU: Farrara, J
EM: jfarrara@pacific.jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Raytheon, 299 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
AU: Park, K
EM: kpark@pacific.jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United States
AU: Wang, X
EM: xiaochun@pacific.jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Raytheon, 299 N Euclid Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
AB:
The development and implementation of a real-time ocean forecast system based on the Regional Ocean
Modeling System (ROMS) off the coast of California are described. Results produced by the real-time ocean
forecast system during two field experiments during the summers of 2003 and 2006 are presented. The real-
time ocean forecasting system is based on a nested ROMS configuration including the U.S. West coastal ocean
at 15-km resolution, the central California coastal ocean at 5-km, and the Monterey Bay region at 1.5-km. All
nested models have 32 vertical sigma (or terrain-following) layers. Using the 3-dimensional variational data
assimilation (3DVAR) scheme, we assimilate both the satellite altimeter data and other complementary data sets
(both in situ and remote sensing) every six hours to produce nowcast (or analysis) field, from which a 48-hour
forecast can be performed. The nowcast and forecast fields are first compared with the assimilated data for
consistency check. An evaluation of the ROMS nowcast and forecast against the independent measurements that
are not assimilated into models is then conducted. Predictability analysis will also be presented and discussed.
The above described real-time ocean forecast system is currently being implemented for real-time operational
demonstrations on the 24/7 basis. The system will provide 3-dimensional ocean nowcast and 48-hour forecast
fields every six hours. We will share our early experiences interacting with application users (e.g., coast guard, oil
spill response team, coastal resource managers). The potential impact of the next generation altimeter mission
at high resolution will also be discussed.
DE: 4223 Descriptive and regional oceanography
DE: 4255 Numerical modeling (0545, 0560)
DE: 4260 Ocean data assimilation and reanalysis (3225)
DE: 4263 Ocean predictability and prediction (3238)
DE: 4516 Eastern boundary currents
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly