Breakthrough for Deep Regional Seas Operational Modelling
This week, at the 2004 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, a consortium with DHI as a key member, is presenting a Gulf of Mexico Loop Current Forecast modeling system, which is under operationalisation.
The consortium members, besides DHI, are:
The model used for the forecast is the Colorado University version of the Princeton Ocean Model: CUPOM. It has 24 sigma levels and a horizontal resolution of 1/12 degree. The model has among other been developed with support from the CASE offshore industry group. It assimilates altimetric data and SST data from sattelites.
On this website are shown main results of the simulations: http://www.waterforecast.com/gom/
The initial values for the calculations are from a spin-off run from early 2004 to April 20,with assimilated data and 1999 climatological winddata. The data shown are obtained without assimilation and with the same climatological input data. Presently, 2004 winddata will be used combined with assimilation.
The system will be further developed to higher resolution, greater area, better accuracy, to link up to local finer scale models and to describe other variables like chemistry and biology, particularly the hypoxia conditions in the upper Gulf.
Further information from Karl Iver Dahl-Madsen, kdm@dhi.dk, +45 45 16 91 35, mobile: +45 22 10 49 21
Photos from OTC, Click to see larger photo, 850KB.