Accession Number:

ADA393043

Title:

Nowcasting and Forecasting the Global Ocean

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB STENNIS DETACHMENT STENNIS SPACE CENTER MS

Personal Author(s):

• Metzger, E. J.
• Smedstad, Ole M.
• Hurlburt, Harley E.
• Wallcraft, Alan J.
• Rhodes, Robert C.

Report Date:

2001-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

11.0

Abstract:

Over the past decade, the Naval Research Laboratory NRL has been actively working on the problem of eddy-resolving global ocean modeling and prediction. The worlds first global ocean nowcastforecast system has been developed at NRL and is running in real-time at the Naval Oceanographic Office NAVO. The system consist of the 116 degree 7-layer, thermodynamic, finite depth version of the Navy Layered Ocean Nodal NLOM for the global ocean 72 degrees to 65 degrees north and includes a mixed layer and sea surface temperature SST. It spun-up to real-time using high frequency wind and thermal forcing from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Centers Navy Operational Global Atmospheric prediction system. It includes assimilation of SST and near real-time TOPEXPOSEIDON and ERS-2 altimeter data made available from NAVOs Altimeter Data Fusion Center NAVO is scheduled to begin operational testing of the system on 15 December 2000 and pending a successful outcome it will become an operational product. System gives a real-time view of the ocean down to 50-200 km scale of ocean eddies and the meandering of ocean currents and fronts. Figure 1 is an example of sea surface height SSH and SST for the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic.

Descriptors:

• *METEOROLOGY
• *OCEAN CURRENTS
• *OCEAN MODELS
• *WEATHER FORECASTING
• ALTIMETERS
• EDDIES(FLUID MECHANICS)
• GULF STREAM
• HIGH FREQUENCY
• NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
• OCEAN SURFACE
• OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA
• REAL TIME
• REPRINTS
• SURFACE TEMPERATURE
• TEST AND EVALUATION
• WIND

Subject Categories:

• Meteorology
• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE