FY99 Projects Funded Under NOPP
The following is a list of projects (showing the project
title and the lead P.I. and institution) funded under the FY 1999 National Oceanographic
Partnership Program (NOPP). Discussions on the contractual details of each award
were initiated at the Office of Naval
Research. For abstracts of these projects and the partnerships involved
in each one, click on the title of the project.
"Autonomous Profilers for Carbon-System
and Biological Observations"
Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. James Bishop, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory
"Front Resolving Observational Network
with Telemetry"
Lead PI: Dr. Philip Bogden, University of Connecticut
"HYCOM Consortium for Data-Assimilative
Ocean Modeling"
Lead PI: Dr. Eric Chassignet, University of Miami/RSMAS
"Development of an Autonomous Sampling
Network for Plankton, Hydrography and Currents. Phase I. Incorporation of Plankton
Imaging Capability into Autonomous Underwater Vehicles"
Lead PI: Dr. Cabell Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution
"Ocean Response Coastal Analysis
System (ORCAS)"
Lead PI: Dr. Percy Donaghay, University of Rhode
Island
"Real-Time Forecasting System of
Winds, Waves and Surge in Tropical Cyclones"
Lead PI: Dr. Hans Graber, University of Miami/RSMAS
"Modeling and Data Assimilation
for the Study of Puget Sound, Washington"
Lead PI: Dr. Mitsuhiro Kawase, University of Washington
"Development and Verification of
a Comprehensive Community Model for Physical Processes in the Nearshore Ocean"
Lead PI: Dr. James Kirby, University of Delaware
"Incorporation of Sensors into Autonomous
Gliders for 4-D Measurement of Bio-optical and Chemical Parameters"
Lead PI: Dr. Mary Jane Perry, University of Maine
"Models of the Coastal Ocean off
the West Coast of North America: A Comparative Study and Synthesis of Observations"
Lead PI: Dr. Thomas Powell, University of California,
Berkeley
"An Integrated System for Real-Time
CTD Profiling Float Data on Basin Scales"
Lead PI: Dr. Dean Roemmich, Scripps Institution
of Oceanography
"Planning for a Coupled Physical-Biological
Modeling Node: A 'Phase A' National Ocean Partnership Program Proposal"
Lead PI: Dr. Lewis Rothstein, University of Rhode
Island
"A Consortium for Ocean Circulation
and Climate Estimation"
Lead PI: Dr. Detlef Stammer, Scripps Institution
of Oceanography
FY 1999 NOPP PROJECTS
Autonomous Profilers for Carbon-System
and Biological Observations
Lead P.I.: Dr. James K.B. Bishop, Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory
The partnership will demonstrate the concept of low-cost
autonomous vehicles outfitted with a suite of low-power optical, physical and
chemical sensors which, when widely deployed, will permit high frequency - 4D
-observations in the upper 1000 m of the variability of ocean biological processes,
carbon biomass, physics and parameters of the carbon system.
The autonomous platform to be used is the Sounding Oceanographic
Lagrangian Observer (SOLO), a low-cost, low-power profiling float. This well
proven ocean physics platform, augmented with new optical sensors for biogeochemistry,
will permit the rapid and precise determination of two important products of
photosynthesis, particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate inorganic carbon
(PIC), and physical data relevant to the understanding of the variability of
these products. It is envisioned that once proven, such floats can be widely
deployed to explore carbon biomass variability on global scales. The sensors
and methodology employed in this project can easily migrate to other autonomous
platforms; furthermore, the work of this partnership will lay the foundation
for expanded sensor suites and their integration onto recoverable autonomous
self-navigating platforms designed to quantify both the reactants and products
of photosynthesis, and the rates of carbon-system processes.
Number of Years: 2
Partners:
- Academia
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Instrument
Development Group) - Adaptation of SOLO platform for optical sensors;
telemetry and mission programming; sensor integration; analysis of physical
data.
- Industry
- WET Labs, Inc. - Development of optical sensors
for determining particulate organic carbon and particulate inorganic carbon;
biofouling remediation.
- Government
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Project and science coordination;
particulate organic carbon and particulate inorganic carbon sensor development
and field calibration; Multiple Unit Large Volume in situ Filtration System;
analysis of carbon dynamics.
For more information on this project, go here
and here.
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Front Resolving Observational Network
with Telemetry
Lead P.I.: Dr. Philip S. Bogden, University of Connecticut
The partnership will develop, demonstrate, and evaluate
an easily deployed, cost effective observation and prediction system for the
coastal ocean. A diverse range of real-time physical and biological measurements
will be combined with dynamical and biological modeling. The data assimilative
approach to ocean observation mitigates the impact of sampling inadequacies
by requiring dynamical consistency of the data. It will also allow forecasting.
Data telemetry and instrument control will be accomplished
with an underwater acoustic communication network. The network features multiple
inexpensive acoustic modems connected in a topology that can tolerate failure
or loss of individual elements. Performance of the observation system will be
evaluated by comparing assimilated data products to results from cruises with
intense sampling designed to resolve multiple scales of variability.
For more information on this project, click here.
Number of Years: 3
Partners:
- Academia
University of Connecticut - Project coordination; data assimilation
and inverse modeling; autonomous, trawl-resistant, bottom-mounted instrument
array; high-frequency radar measurement of surface currents; large scale
surveys; frontal scale circulation and hydrography; educational outreach
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Data
assimilation and inverse modeling
- University of Rhode Island - High-frequency
radar measurement of surface currents; satellite temperature (AVHRR) and
color (SeaWiFS); large scale surveys; frontal scale turbulence survey
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Biological Oceanography - Profiling plankton observatory
Physical Oceanography - Data assimilation and inverse modeling
- Industry
Codar Ocean Sensors, Ltd. - High-frequency radar measurement of surface
currents
- Datasonics, Inc. - Bottom-mounted acoustic
communications network
- Government
Naval Undersea Warfare Center - Frontal scale turbulence survey
- Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego
- Bottom-mounted acoustic communications network
- United States Coast Guard - Lagrangian drifter
program
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HYCOM Consortium for Data-Assimilative
Ocean Modeling
Lead P.I.: Dr. Eric Chassignet, University of Miami,
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
The goal of this project is to validate a Hybrid Coordinate
Ocean Model with data assimilation capabilities. The partnership effort accelerates
and leverages both existing and planned efforts to develop a consortium for
hybrid-coordinate data assimilative ocean modeling, which will be ready in 2003
to address both the US-GODAE (Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment) principal
objective, i.e., the depiction of the three-dimensional ocean state at fine
resolution in near-real time, and the climate modeling objective of producing
an unbiased estimate of the state of the ocean at coarse resolution for long-term
climate variability research. The modeling component of the research will be
accelerated through the use of the TOPAZ programming tool for the automatic
generation of efficient numerical code.
A detailed analysis of the mean and eddy transport of heat and salinity/freshwater,
the climate variability on seasonal to multidecadal time scales, and the predictability
of Lagrangian trajectories will be quantified. Model-based reanalysis of archived
observational data will provide a comprehensive picture of the dynamics and
thermodynamics of the global ocean during recent decades. A new web-based tool
that allows quicker access to both data and software will facilitate the availability
of those products to the user community.
Number of Years: 5
Partners:
- Academia
- University of Miami - Project coordination;
basin and global modeling; data assimilation; Lagrangian prediction; model/data
comparison; mixed layer dynamics
- University of Minnesota - Code optimization;
WEB tool
- Industry
- Planning Systems, Inc. - Data assimilation
- Orbital Imaging Corporation - Product evaluation
- Government
Naval Research Laboratory - Basin and global modeling; code optimization;
satellite data assimilation
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Atlantic
Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory - Reanalysis; model/data
comparison
- Los Alamos National Laboratory - Global modeling
- U.S. Coast Guard/ International Ice Patrol
- Product evaluation
- Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography
Center - Product evaluation
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Development of an Autonomous Sampling
Network for Plankton, Hydrography and Currents. Phase I. Incorporation of Plankton
Imaging Capability into Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
Lead P.I.: Dr. Cabell S. Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution
Episodic factors such as storms, water mass interactions,
and predator-prey patchiness are a major source of variability in marine populations,
but, due to technological limitations, this variability cannot be adequately
quantified. The partnership will use a 3-phase approach to develop an autonomous
sampling network for measuring abundance of planktonic taxa (together with environmental
variables) with high resolution in time and space. In Phase 1 (current funding
request), a modular Video Plankton Recorder (VPR) will be developed for use
on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and the VPR/AUV system will be field
tested in a variety of habitats. Phase 2 will focus on docking and battery recharging
issues to enable repeated autonomous sampling between two shore stations. In
Phase 3, a small autonomous network of VPR/AUVs together with docking stations
will be deployed in a remote area and transmit data via satellite telemetry.
This network, together with data assimilative modeling, will greatly improve
predictive capability in Oceanography.
Number of Years: 2
Partners:
- Academia
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Project management; digital video
recorder; integration with Remote Environmental Monitoring Unit (REMUS);
pressure housing design; field demonstration
- Industry
Sea Scan, Inc. - VPR system design; VPR optics; strobe design
- Government
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority - Plume tracking; providing comparative
data
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary/National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Participation in field study;
creation of public displays
- Environmental Protection Agency - Ship time;
analysis of data collected
- Other
New England Aquarium - Documentation of field study; development of
public display
For more information on this project, click here.
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Ocean Response Coastal Analysis
System (ORCAS)
Lead P.I.: Dr. Percy L. Donaghay, University of Rhode
Island
The partnership will develop, test, and demonstrate ORCAS,
a system of ship-deployed and autonomous moored bottom-up profilers for coherent,
real-time monitoring of multiple biological, physical, chemical, and optical
parameters within the ocean, in 3-D space and time. The innovative profiling
technology combines small intelligent underwater winch and sensor controllers,
miniaturized sensors for inherent optical properties, and profiling nutrient
analyzers. The high-resolution profilers will be readily deployable for determination
of the coastal environmental response to episodic events such as storms, nutrient
inputs, hypoxia, and algal blooms.
Two types of autonomous profiling packages are planned.
The first is a compact, but highly integrated, profiler featuring miniaturized
sensors for CTD and optics. This smaller, lower-cost package will allow easy
deployment individually or as a horizontal array of several bottom-up profilers
that provide broad spatial coverage. The second profiler package will be comprised
of a comprehensive suite of high-resolution physical, chemical and bio-optical
sensors. It will be deployable either from a surface ship or a mooring. Intelligent
controllers and telecommunications modules will allow autonomous operation,
in situ data processing, and real-time data telemetry to a base computer, and
internet dissemination. Collected data will be used to generate 4-D fields of
information; in turn these fields can be used to generate useful environmental
products.
Number of Years: 3
Partners:
- Academia
University of Rhode Island - Project coordination; profiler development
and deployment; physical, biological, optical data collection and analysis;
focus on episodic events, thin plankton layers and harmful algal blooms
- Industry
WET Labs, Inc. - Development of intelligent controller and data acquisition
systems for the
autonomous profiler winch and sensor packages; development of mini-optical,
CTD sensor systems; on-site field support
- SubChem Systems - Development and field deployment
of in situ nutrient analyzers and data
analysis; investigation of event-driven nutrient dynamics, hypoxia, thin
plankton layers and harmful algal blooms; assistance with University of
Rhode Island project coordination
- Government
Naval Research Laboratory - Coordination with Navy research optics programs;
participation in mooring validation and diver exercises; data processing/evaluation;
algorithm development; transition of results to Navy
- Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography
Command - Coordination with
operational Navy objectives; divers for in-water visibility and vulnerability
exercises; development and transition of operational product; ship arrangements
and cost
Environmental Protection Agency - Coordination with EPA-Gulf Ecology
program objectives (hypoxia, HAB); integration and deployment of Fast Repetition
Rate Fluorescence with University of Rhode Island profiler, and data analysis
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Real-Time Forecasting System of
Winds, Waves and Surge in Tropical Cyclones
Lead P.I.: Dr. Hans C. Graber, University of Miami,
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
The long-term goal of this partnership is to establish
an operational forecasting system of the wind field and resulting waves and
surge impacting the coastline during the approach and landfall of tropical cyclones.
The results of this forecasting system will provide real-time information to
the National Hurricane Center during the tropical cyclone season in the Atlantic
for establishing improved advisories for the general public and federal agencies
including military and civil emergency response teams. The feasibility of such
a forecast system has been established over the past decade from the development
of the individual modules. These modules have independently been tested over
the years and are now ready to be linked into a complete forecasting system.
This project will conduct planning activities for the functional description
of the forecasting system, establish the acquisition of data sources, determine
the computing requirements, design the interfaces, and define model output products.
Number of Years: 1
Partners:
- Academia
University of Miami/Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
- Real-time forecasting system; test case: Hurricane Georges
- Florida Atlantic University - Real-time forecasting
system; test case: Hurricane Georges
- Industry
Oceanweather, Inc. - Real-time forecasting system; test case: Hurricane
Georges
- Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Test case: Hurricane
Georges; assessment
- Government
US Army Corps of Engineers - Real-time forecasting system; test case:
Hurricane Georges
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
- Real-time forecasting system; test case: Hurricane Georges
National Hurricane Center - Real-time forecasting system; assessment
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Modeling and Data Assimilation
for the Study of Puget Sound, Washington
Lead P.I.: Dr. Mitsuhiro Kawase, University of Washington
This partnership will develop a 5-year research plan
for a regional modeling and data assimilation "node" of interdisciplinary,
inter-agency research in estuarine oceanography with a focus on Puget Sound,
Washington. The envisioned node will capitalize on existing modeling and data-gathering
activities conducted by the partnership members in response to an urgent and
growing need for understanding of Puget Sound ecosystem and anthropogenic impacts
on the system; will conduct highly integrated, interdisciplinary research on
modeling the Sound's ecosystem; and will seek to disseminate the knowledge through
experimental Grade 8 and undergraduate educational activities. In this planning
phase, partnership will: (1) convene regular meetings of the partners to strengthen
linkage and develop a comprehensive plan; (2) assess resource needs for the
envisioned node and coordinate this with the emerging "node-hub" structure
of NOPP; and (3) seek outside expertise in the area of data assimilation and
develop strategies for bringing this in to the partnership.
Number of Years: 1
Partners:
- Academia
- University of Washington
- School of Oceanography - Partnership coordination;
assessment of computational needs -
modeling of entire Sound, data management; preparation of five-year
proposal; seminar organization
College of Education - Preparation of five-year proposal
- Government
King County Department of Natural Resources - Assessment of computational
needs -
modeling of central Sound; preparation of five-year proposal
- Washington State Department of Ecology -
Assessment of computational needs -
modeling of south Sound; preparation of five-year proposal
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Development and Verification of
a Comprehensive Community Model for Physical Processes in the Nearshore Ocean
Lead P.I.: Dr. James T. Kirby, University of Delaware,
Center for Applied Coastal Research
The partnership will develop and test a comprehensive
community model that predicts waves, currents, sediment transport and bathymetric
change in the nearshore ocean, between the shoreline and about 10 m water depth.
The model will consist of a "backbone", handling data input and output
as well as internal storage, together with a suite of "modules", each
of which handles a focused subset of the physical processes being studied. A
wave module will model wave transformation over arbitrary coastal bathymetry
and predict radiation stresses and wave induced mass fluxes. A circulation module
will model the slowly varying current field driven by waves, wind and buoyancy
forcing, and will provide information about the bottom boundary layer structure.
A seabed module will model sediment transport, determine the bedform geometry,
parameterize the bedform effect on bottom friction, and compute morphological
evolution resulting from spatial variations in local sediment transport rates.
The project will support extensions to the science base associated with each
module, and will support the use of existing field and laboratory data sets
to define significant tests of the modules. Data assimilation techniques will
be developed and employed to address the problems of insufficient boundary data
information in model applications to field experiments as well as parameter
determination.
Number of Years: 5
Partners:
- Academia
University of Delaware - Project coordination; program integration;
wave module; circulation module
- Oregon State University - Circulation model
- University of Florida - Sediment Transport;
morphology module
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography - Data
assimilation; model verification
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Data
assimilation; model verification
- North Carolina State University - Sediment
transport; morphology module
- University of Michigan - Sediment transport;
morphology module
- Naval Postgraduate School - Wave module;
sediment transport; morphology module
- Government
Naval Research Laboratory - Wave module
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Incorporation of Sensors into Autonomous
Gliders for 4-D Measurements of Bio-Optical and Chemical Parameters
Lead P.I.: Dr. Mary Jane Perry, University of Maine
Members of this partnership have developed and deployed
a small (1.8 m, 52 kg) underwater glider that moves horizontally and vertically
using buoyancy and wings. The glider can perform hundreds of cycles per launch
from surface to 2,000 m or less, report data back (including GPS location) in
real time upon each surfacing, and be reprogrammed from shore. At present the
glider only measures physical parameters. This project will expand the glider's
capabilities to include measurement of inherent optical properties of the water
and dissolved oxygen at the same time and space scales as the physics. The partnership
will design and build miniaturized sensors with low power consumption, incorporate
them into the glider, and do extensive engineering tests. A series of scientific
demonstrations will be conducted in Puget Sound. The glider will be incorporated
into technology-based curricula development for eight grade and undergraduate
programs.
Number of Years: 3
Partners:
- Academia
University of Maine - Project management; optical sensor validation;
science demonstrations; data analysis
- University of Washington - Building, testing,
and deployment of gliders; sensor validation; science demonstrations; data
analysis; curriculum development
- Oregon State University - Data analysis;
dye studies
- Industry
WET Labs, Inc. - Develop optical sensors
- Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. - Modify oxygen
sensor
- Government
King County Department of Natural Resources - Moorings; CTD surveys,
dye experiment; research vessel
- Washington Department of Ecology - Oxygen
sensor validation; primary productivity; seaplane hydrographic surveys
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Models of the Coastal Ocean off
the West Coast of North America: A Comparative Study and Synthesis of Observations
Lead P.I.: Dr. Thomas Powell, University of California,
Berkeley
The partnership will conduct a year-long planning activity
to develop a concrete, detailed work-plan that will concentrate and strengthen
modeling and data assimilation off the Pacific coast of North America. The overall
goal of the partnership is to develop a coherent and comprehensive picture of
the ocean processes in this coastal region of the eastern Pacific. Moreover,
the techniques of data assimilation are becoming sufficiently well-developed
that a synthesis of data and models is within reach of investigators.
Number of Years: 1
Partners:
- Academia
University of California Berkeley - Overall leadership; meeting organization
and logistics (travel arrangements); work-plan and final NOPP proposal preparation
(lead role); aid to small computer users (e.g. front end to "hub"
connections)
- University of California Los Angeles - Overall
leadership; meeting organization; work-plan and final NOPP proposal preparation;
computing support, especially devoted to remote computing at large facilities
(e.g. accounts, evaluation of procedures, etc.); preparation of report on
"hub" emulation experiences
- Oregon State University - Overall leadership;
meeting organization; work-plan and final NOPP proposal preparation
- Naval Postgraduate School - Meeting and task-group
participation, including computational projects, as appropriate; work-plan
and NOPP proposal preparation
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Meeting and task-group participation, including computational projects,
as appropriate; work-plan and NOPP proposal preparation
Scripps Institution of Oceanography - Meeting and task-group participation,
including computational projects, as appropriate; work-plan and NOPP proposal
preparation
Government
Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Meeting and task-group participation, including
computational projects, as appropriate; work-plan and NOPP proposal preparation
- Naval Research Laboratory - Meeting and task-group
participation, including computational projects, as appropriate; work-plan
and NOPP proposal preparation
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Pacific
Fisheries Environmental Group - Meeting and task-group participation,
including computational projects, as appropriate; work-plan and NOPP proposal
preparation
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Pacific Marine Environmental
Laboratory - Meeting and task-group participation, including computational
projects, as appropriate; work-plan and NOPP proposal preparation
- Institute of Ocean Sciences - Meeting and
task-group participation, including computational projects, as appropriate;
work-plan and NOPP proposal preparation
- Other
National Center for Atmospheric Research - Meeting and task-group participation,
including computational projects, as appropriate; work-plan and NOPP proposal
preparation
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An Integrated System for Real-Time
CTD Profiling Float Data on Basin Scales (Argo)
Lead P.I.: Dr. Dean H. Roemmich, Scripps Institution
of Oceanography
The partnership will, using profiling float technology,
provide the oceanographic and climate science communities with the capability
to obtain systematic real-time information of the physical state of the ocean.
The necessary steps for putting this capability in place are:
- Implementation of recent instrumentation developments
to improve the performance and cost effectiveness of the instrument.
- Building a data system that fully integrates data
collection, data assembly, quality control and user-based functions.
- Deploying prototype large-scale arrays in the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans, within the scientific context of CLIVAR, to demonstrate
the ability to provide real-time and delayed mode data streams of high scientific
value.
These initial steps target measurements of physical variables,
but the global network toward which the long-term effort is aimed can provide
the necessary platforms for variety of complementary and compatible chemical
and biological sensors.
Number of Years: 3
Partners:
- Academia
Scripps Institution of Oceanography - Project coordinator; instrument
development; float fabrication and deployment; data quality, analysis
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Instrument
development; float fabrication and deployment; data quality, analysis
- University of Washington - Instrument checkout
and deployment; data quality, analysis
- Industry
Seascan, Inc - Instrument development
- Webb Research Corporation - Instrument development,
fabrication
- Government
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Atlantic Oceanographic and
Meteorological Laboratory - Data system coordinator; data tracking;
data quality, analysis
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Pacific
Marine Environmental Laboratory - Data quality, analysis
For more information on Argo, go to www.argo.ucsd.edu.
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Planning for a Coupled Physical-Biological
Modeling Node: A 'Phase A' National Oceanographic Partnership Program Proposal
Lead P.I.: Dr. Lewis M. Rothstein, University of Rhode
Island
This project will initiate an interdisciplinary partnership
program to plan for the development of the next generation of coupled physical-biological
models. The ultimate goal is to develop these models for predictive/forecast
purposes. The fundamental operational objective for the one-year program is
to develop a detailed scientific and implementation plan to establish the partnership's
contribution to a coupled physical-biological modeling 'node' as a component
of the national hub-node modeling infrastructure. The main scientific objective
is to begin implementing data assimilation techniques in coupled physical-biological
models for the purpose of better understanding global ecosystem complexity,
for developing the next generation of community ecosystem models, and for formulating
predictive/forecast models.
Number of Years: 1
Partners:
- Academia
University of Rhode Island - Project coordinator; regional nested-grid
modeling; embedded mixed layer modeling; model forecast systems; data acquisition
and interpretation for model calibration, validation and assimilation; coastal
modeling
- Oregon State University - Data assimilation;
coastal modeling; open ocean regional modeling; remote sensing
- University of Miami - Basin and global scale
physical modeling; hybrid isopycnal/level coordinate models for the coastal
open-ocean interface
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Data
acquisition and interpretation for model calibration, validation and assimilation
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Basis
scale models; biogeochemical cycles
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Data assimilation; adaptive grid structures; domain interfacing (coastal/deep
ocean coupling)
- Old Dominion University - Coastal and estuarine
modeling; data assimilation; biological process modeling
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Role
of mesoscale processes on biogeochemical cycling; impact of coastal circulation
on biological processes; biological data assimilation
- Government
Naval Research Laboratory - Basin and coastal modeling; data assimilation;
model forecast systems
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Model forecast systems and general ocean modeling; data assimilation
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Ocean color satellite data products; data assimilation
- Other
National Center for Atmospheric Research - Biological process modeling;
global climate system models; biogeochemical processes
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A Consortium for Ocean Circulation
and Climate Estimation
Lead P.I.: Dr. Detlef Stammer, Scripps Institution
of Oceanography
The partnership will develop a five-year NOPP A2 (Phase
B) "node" to bring ocean state estimation from its current experimental
status to a practical and quasi-operational tool for studying large-scale ocean
dynamics, for examining the ocean's role in climate variability, and for quantitatively
designing long-term observational strategies. The central technical goal is
a complete global-scale ocean state estimation over at least the 15 year period
1985-2000 at 1/4 resolution with a complete error description and regional refinements
to support CLIVAR and GODAE needs. The partnership will combine all available
and anticipated large-scale data sets - including TOPEX/POSEIDON, TOGA-TAO,
high-resolution VOS XBT/XCTD, profiling floats, and drifters - with the dynamics
embodied in a general circulation model to estimate the time-evolving, three-dimensional
physical state of the full oceanic circulation. Results will be evaluated by
the consortium in collaboration with the community and made available to all,
fostered through an educational and visitor program.
Number of Years: 5
Partners:
- Academia
Scripps Institution of Oceanography - Global optimization computation:
implementation of model developments into optimization; use of the global
results for studies of oceanic variability, global observation system design;
upper-ocean model-data and estimation of data and error co-variance; Pacific
Basin-wide Extended Climate Studies (BECS) model
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Model
development; use of global model for study of heat, salt, carbon budgets;
regional observing system design; regional Atlantic BECS model
- Government
Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Global optimization computation; reduced
Kalman filter/smoother; Pacific BECS model and regional optimization; operational
products; maintenance of data and model output flow both internally and
to outside users
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