Observing Systems & Models
Operational Oceanography
As the ocean undergoes unprecedented changes driven by human activities, monitoring the ocean and changes in its parameters are more important than ever. Data and information about the ocean are vital for governments, scientists, and all stakeholders in the Blue Economy.
Operational oceanography encompasses a wide variety of activities that provide estimates of physical and biogeochemical variables and properties for the past, present and future ocean.
Operational oceanographic data is derived from in situ and satellite observations, which also feed numerical models, which are a mathematical description of the ocean.
In this discipline, ocean models, in situ and satellite observations are the main components of an ocean monitoring and forecasting system.
Information about the surface and sub-surface of the ocean is broken down into usable data through combining observational records with mathematical equations and models, meaning the field is of huge global importance.
What is a model in Operational Oceanography?
An ocean model is a mathematical description of the ocean. It includes the familiar three dimensions, as well as its evolution over time; making it four dimensional (4D).
Mathematics is at the heart of operational oceanography. In oceanographic numerical models, mathematical equations are used to describe the movement of fluids (water and air) across the planet’s surface, the biogeochemical processes and the sea ice phenomena.
To be able to carry out the simulation, the equations first need to be fed with parameters of the ‘outside’ world. Known as ‘boundary conditions’, these parameters refer to the changes in wind, temperature, pressure and heat. Initial conditions (such as sea surface temperature, sea surface height and ice concentration) — crucial to obtaining the most accurate results for a given time — also need to be established; they generally incorporate real observations from in situ platforms or satellites.
The model is run on a supercomputer, using state-of-the-art technologies.
What role do Observing Systems play?
Ocean models, in situ and satellite observations are the main components of an ocean monitoring and forecasting system.
In situ and satellite observations provided by Observing Systems are integrated into the numerical models to ensure they are as close to reality as possible. This process is called ‘data assimilation’. Observational data is also used to validate numerical models outputs.
The quality of Operational Oceanography Forecasting System products is highly dependent on the availability of in situ and satellite observations. Ocean observations play a critical role in all aspects of operational oceanography, not only for assimilation but as part of the research cycle, and for verification and validation of products.