Synthesis and Assimilation Systems - Essential Adjuncts to the Global Ocean Observing System

Rienecker, Michele M.; Awaji, Toshiyuki; Balmaseda, Magdalena; Behringer, David; Bell, Michael; Carton, James A.; Breivik, Lars-Anders; Dombrowsky, E.; Fairall, C. W.; Freeland, Howard J.; Griffies, Stephen M.; Haines, Keith; Harrison, D.E.; Heimbach, Patrick; Kamachi, Masafumi; Kent, Elizabeth C.; Lee, T.; Traon, P. Y. Le; McPhaden, Michael J.; Martin, M. J.; Oke, Peter R.; Palmer,; Rémy, E.; Rosati, T.; Schiller, A.; Smith, Doug; Snowden, Derrick; Stammer, Detlef; Trenberth, Kevin E.; Xue, Yan

doi:10.5270/oceanobs09.pp.31

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…Ocean reanalyses (ORAs) represent an important tool for understanding ocean variability and climate change (Lee et al 2009) and underpin a number of forecast activities, such as operational oceanography and seasonal-to-decadal prediction (Rienecker et al 2010). ORAs employ a variety of ocean general circulation models (OGCMs) and data assimilation schemes to synthesize a diverse network of available ocean observations in order to arrive at a dynamically consistent estimate of the historical ocean state.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean heat content variability and change in an ensemble of ocean reanalyses

et al. 2015

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regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans where the interannual variability of the ensemble mean exceeds ensemble spread, indicating that OHC variations are well-constrained by the available observations over the period [1993][1994][1995][1996][1997][1998][1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009]. At deeper levels, the ORAs are less well-constrained by observations with the largest differences across the ensemble mostly associated with areas of high eddy kinetic energy, such as the Southern Ocean and boundary current regions. Spatial patterns of OHC change for the period 1997-2009 show good agreement in the upper 300 m and are characterized by a strong dipole pattern in the Pacific Ocean. There is less agreement in the patterns of change at deeper levels, potentially linked to differences in the representation of ocean dynamics, such as water mass formation processes. However, the Atlantic and Southern Oceans Abstract Accurate knowledge of the location and magnitude of ocean heat content (OHC) variability and change is essential for understanding the processes that govern decadal variations in surface temperature, quantifying changes in the planetary energy budget, and developing constraints on the transient climate response to external forcings. We present an overview of the temporal and spatial characteristics of OHC variability and change as represented by an ensemble of dynamical and statistical ocean reanalyses (ORAs). Spatial maps of the 0-300 m layer show large This paper is a contribution to the special issue on Ocean estimation from an ensemble of global ocean reanalyses, consisting of papers from the Ocean Reanalyses Intercomparsion Project (ORAIP), coordinated by CLIVAR-GSOP and GODAE OceanView. The special issue also contains specific studies using single reanalysis systems. The current work emphasizes the need to better observe the deep ocean, both for providing observational constraints for future ocean state estimation efforts and also to develop improved models and data assimilation methods.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocean heat content variability and change in an ensemble of ocean reanalyses

et al. 2015

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“…[22]). Optimum utilization of satellite winds requires: (1) establishment of the accuracy and full dynamic range of the data and (2) the development of efficient methods that combine satellite and in situ winds into high resolution time and space forcing fields [92]. With few exceptions (e.g.…”

Section: Impact Of Satellite Winds On Wave Model Development Applicamentioning

confidence: 99%

Remotely Sensed Winds and Wind Stresses for Marine Forecasting and Ocean Modeling

Bourassa¹

2010

Proceedings of OceanObs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society

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“…The Ocean Obs 2009 workshop focused on developing a framework for designing and sustaining world ocean observing and information systems that support societal needs concerning ocean weather, climate, ecosystems, carbon and chemistry. Many of the Community White Papers contributed to Ocean Obs 2009 directly discuss topics where ocean models play a central role in generating information, in conjunction with observations, appropriate for ocean forecasting/prediction, state estimation, data assimilation, sensitivity analysis, and other forms of ocean information on both short (days) and long (decades to centuries) time scales ( [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]). The central purpose of the present paper is to highlight important research that forms the scientific basis for ocean circulation models and their continued evolution.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, USA. Email: gokhan@ucar.edu (7) Alfred Wegener Institut für Polar-und Meeresforschung, Bussestr. 24, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany.…”

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“…Böning (4) , E.P. Chassignet (5) , G. Danabasoglu (6) , S. Danilov (7) , E. Deleersnijder (8) , H. Drange (9) , M. England (10) , B. Fox-Kemper (11) , R. Gerdes (12) , A. Gnanadesikan (13) , R.J. Greatbatch (14) , R.W. Hallberg (15) , E. Hanert (16) , M.J. Harrison (17) , S. Legg (18) (6) National Center for Atmospheric Research, Climate and Global Dynamics Division, P.O.…”

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Problems and Prospects in Large-Scale Ocean Circulation Models

Griffies

Deleersnijder²,

Hanert³

2010

Proceedings of OceanObs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society

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We overview problems and prospects in ocean circulation models, with emphasis on certain developments aiming to enhance the physical integrity and flexibility of large-scale models used to study global climate. We also consider elements of observational measures rendering information to help evaluate simulations and to guide development priorities. SCOPE OF THIS PAPERNumerical ocean circulation models support oceanography and climate science by providing tools to mechanistically interpret ocean observations, to experimentally investigate hypotheses for ocean phenemona, to consider future scenarios such as those associated with human-induced climate warming, and to forecast ocean conditions on weekly to decadal time scales using dynamical modeling systems. We anticipate that the already significant role models play in ocean and climate science will increase in prominence as models improve, observational datasets grow, and the impacts of climate change become more tangible.The Ocean Obs 2009 workshop focused on developing a framework for designing and sustaining world ocean observing and information systems that support societal needs concerning ocean weather, climate, ecosystems, carbon and chemistry. Many of the Community White Papers contributed to Ocean Obs 2009 directly discuss topics where ocean models play a central role in generating information, in conjunction with observations, appropriate for ocean forecasting/prediction, state estimation, data assimilation, sensitivity analysis, and other forms of ocean information on both short (days) and long (decades to centuries) time scales ( [1-9]). The central purpose of the present paper is to highlight important research that forms the scientific basis for ocean circulation models and their continued evolution. We provide examples and recommendations where observations support the evolution of ocean models. The above listed White Papers, those from [10] and [11], and others, provide further discussions and recommendations of measurements that support the development and use of ocean models. OCEAN MODELS AND MODELINGThe ocean is a forced-dissipative system, with forcing largely at the boundaries and dissipation at the molecular scale. It is contained by complex land-sea boundaries with motions also constrained by rotation and stratification. Flow exhibits boundary currents, large-scale gyres and jets, boundary layers, linear and nonlinear waves, and quasi-geostrophic and three dimensional turbulence. Water mass tracer properties are preserved over thousands of mesoscale eddy turnover time scales. These characteristics of the ocean circulation pose significant difficulties for simulations. Indeed, ocean climate modeling is an application of a very different nature to those found in other areas of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The time-scales of interest are decades to millennia, yet simulations require resolution or parameterization of phenomena whose time scales are minutes to hours. Furthermore, the most energetic spatial scales are of order 10 k...

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Synthesis and Assimilation Systems - Essential Adjuncts to the Global Ocean Observing System

Cited by 15 publications

References 115 publications

Ocean heat content variability and change in an ensemble of ocean reanalyses

Ocean heat content variability and change in an ensemble of ocean reanalyses

Remotely Sensed Winds and Wind Stresses for Marine Forecasting and Ocean Modeling

Problems and Prospects in Large-Scale Ocean Circulation Models

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