Accession Number:

ADA585251

Title:

Validation Test Report for the Improved Synthetic Ocean Profile (ISOP) System, Part I: Synthetic Profile Methods and Algorithm

Descriptive Note:

Memorandum rept.

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB STENNIS DETACHMENT STENNIS SPACE CENTER MS OCEANOGRAPHY DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Helber, Robert W.
• Townsend, Tamara L.
• Barron, Charlie N.
• Dastugue, Jan M.
• Carnes, Michael R.

Report Date:

2013-03-15

Pagination or Media Count:

128.0

Abstract:

A new method is developed to utilize the relatively abundant satellite observations of sea surface temperature SST and sea surface height SSH and estimates of mixed layer depth MLD to create synthetic profiles of temperature and salinity for assimilation in the Navys Global Ocean Forecasting System GOFS. The traditional methods for creating synthetics have limitations particularly with regard to accuracy of the vertical ocean gradients. To address this issue, the Improved Synthetic Ocean Profile ISOP system has been developed to more correctly represent the oceans vertical gradients using a three-layer approach accounting for the oceans 1 surface mixed layer, 2 vertical gradients below the mixed layer through the thermocline, and 3 relatively quiescent depths. The present document covers the details of the background historical in situ observation database, the three-layer approach, the algorithms for each layer, and the global ISOP stand-alone synthetic validation.

Descriptors:

• *OCEAN MODELS
• FORECASTING
• LAYERS
• MARINE CLIMATOLOGY
• MIXED LAYER(MARINE)
• OCEAN SURFACE

Subject Categories:

• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE