FY 2002

Global Ocean Data Assimilation: Prospects and Strategies—A USGODAE Workshop

Rienecker, M.M., D.E. Harrison, and W.B. Owens

NOAA OAR Special Report, NTIS: PB2002-, NOAA/OAR/PMEL, Seattle, WA, 57 pp (2001)

Executive Summary—Over the last decade ocean data assimilation software has reached a maturity to match that of atmospheric data assimilation. However, we still are in the early stages of routine generation of global products, and, similar to the case for atmospheric products, the key to progress in this area is as much the supporting infrastructure as it is the assimilation tools themselves. This workshop on ocean assimilation was organized to help advance U.S. activities in ocean data assimilation during the period leading up to the International GODAE Experiment (2003–2005). U.S. ocean data assimilation activities include near-real-time mesoscale resolution efforts and basin-scale delayed-mode efforts.

The workshop report includes summaries of presentations, discussions, and the recommendations for priority activities that emerged from the discussions. From the workshop presentations and discussions, it was clear that some of the most important tasks to be undertaken are associated with the data streams—retrieval, development, and quality control (QC) of data sets, development of observational error characteristics—and delivery of the data for assimilation purposes. Although some of these activities can be accomplished through the cooperation between existing assimilation pgroups, most require an investment in and by the observational, data serving and assimilation communities to ensure that the progress is not made merely by serendipity. Thus, the GODAE patrons are requested to help facilitate funding of these activities through individual agency channels as well as through the National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP).