Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 14
A 4D-Var Analysis System for the California
Current: A Prototype for an Operational
Regional Ocean Data Assimilation System
Andrew M. Moore, Christopher A. Edwards, Jerome Fiechter, Patrick Drake,
Emilie Neveu, Hernan G. Arango, Selime G urol, and Anthony T. Weaver
Abstract In this chapter we will describe a comprehensive 4-dimensional varia-
tional ocean data assimilation system that is currently being used in the Regional
Ocean Model System for the production of both near real-time and historical ocean
analyses of the California Current circulation. The main focus of this article is on the
practical aspects of the data assimilation system as applied to an energetic coastal
mesoscale circulation environment.
14.1
Introduction
For many years, ocean data assimilation has lagged behind meteorological data
assimilation primarily for two reasons. First, developments in data assimilation
in meteorology have been driven primarily by the demands of numerical weather
prediction (NWP), and second, until relatively recently, observations of the oceans
have been relatively scarce compared to the data-rich atmosphere. However, with
the revolution in new ocean observing systems such as Argo drifting floats, ocean
gliders, and autonomous underwater vehicles, and the push to develop ocean
observing and forecasting systems, ocean data assimilation has rapidly reached an
advanced level of maturity.
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