| > Oceanography > Issues > Archive > Volume 22, Number 3 |
2009, Oceanography 22(3):128–143, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.71
Validation and Intercomparison Studies Within GODAE
Authors | Abstract | Full Article | Citation
Authors
Fabrice Hernandez | Mercator Océan, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Laurent Bertino | Modeling and Data Assimilation Group, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Bergen, Norway
Gary Brassington | Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Australia
Eric Chassignet | Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
James Cummings | Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, California, USA
Fraser Davidson | Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Marie Drévillon | Mercator Océan, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Gilles Garric | Mercator Océan, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Masafumi Kamachi | Second Laboratory, Oceanographic Research Department, Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
Jean-Michel Lellouche | Mercator Océan, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Ray Mahdon | Met Office, Exeter, UK
Matthew J. Martin | Met Office, Exeter, UK
Andry Ratsimandresy | Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Charly Regnier | Mercator Océan, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France
Abstract
During the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE), seven international operational centers participated in a dedicated modeling system intercomparison exercise from February to April 2008. The objectives were: (1) to show GODAE global-ocean and basin-scale forecasting systems of different countries in routine interaction and continuous operation, (2) to assess the quality and perform scientific validation of the ocean analyses and the forecasting performance of each system, and (3) to learn from this exercise in order to increase interoperability and collaboration in real time. The validation methodology has steadily improved through several validation experiments and projects performed within the operational oceanography community. It relies on common approaches and standardization of outputs, with a set of diagnostics based on fully detailed metrics that characterize its strengths and weaknesses, but it also provides error levels for ocean estimates. The ocean forecasting systems provide daily fields of mesoscale water mass distribution and ocean circulation, with an option for sea-ice variations. We present a subset of the intercomparisons performed over different areas, showing general ocean circulation in agreement with known patterns. We also present some accuracy assessments through comparison with observed data.
Full Article
Citation
Hernandez, F., L. Bertino, G. Brassington, E. Chassignet, J. Cummings, F. Davidson, M. Drévillon, G. Garric, M. Kamachi, J.-M. Lellouche, R. Mahdon, M.J. Martin, A. Ratsimandresy, and C. Regnier. 2009. Validation and intercomparison studies within GODAE. Oceanography 22(3):128–143, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2009.71.