Global Ocean Prediction Using HYCOM

Abstract

In the third year of this project, fully-global eddy-resolving simulations have been performed using the HYCOM at 1/12-deg resolution. HYCOM is isopycnal in the open, stratified ocean, but makes a dynamically smooth transition to a terrain-following coordinate in shallow water and to pressure coordinates in the mixed layer and/or unstratified regions via the layered continuity equation. This approach incorporates the disadvantages of these three distinct vertical coordinate types into one ocean model that includes the deep ocean as well as coastal regions. In addition, it is designated for high vertical resolution in the surface mixed layer. The majority of the first and second year simulations were atmospherically forced only (no data assimilation). In the second year and third year we added cases with ocean data assimilation. Since December 2006 we have run a nowcast every day, and since February 2007 we perform a nowcast and a 3-day forecast every day in real time. Results from HYCOM's data-assimilative hindcast of 2004 are compared to observations and to the existing operational nowcast/forecast system at the Naval Oceanographic Office.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA476567

Entities

People

  • Alan J. Wallcraft
  • Edward Joseph Metzger
  • Eric Chassignet
  • Harley E. Hurlburt
  • James A. Cummings
  • Ole Martin Smedstad

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Assimilation
  • Coastal Regions
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Deep Oceans
  • Deep Water
  • Equations
  • Military Research
  • Observation
  • Oceans
  • Regions
  • Shallow Water
  • Simulations
  • Terrain
  • Terrain Following
  • Three Dimensional
  • Transitions
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers