| An ocean data assimilation system producing regular analyses isestablished so as to monitor global ocean circulation and to betterunderstand processes underlying the ocean′s seasonal-to-interannualchanges. The data assimilation system is a product of the consortium″Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO)″ and is acontribution to GODAE. The system is based on a near-global primitiveequation model of high resolution (1-deg telescoping to 0.3-deg with10m near surface layers). Measurements from satellite altimetry(TOPEX/POSEIDON, Jason-1) and in situ hydrography (XBTs, moorings,floats, and climatology) are assimilated. The assimilation is basedon a hierarchical approach that consists of 1) a Green′s functionmethod to adjust gross characteristics of the model, 2) a partitionedKalman filter and smoother for routine assimilation and analysis, and3) an adjoint method for periodic rigorous optimization. Analyses areregularly updated and are available via a Live Access Server athttp://www.ecco-group.org/las. The data assimilation system will bereviewed and examples of its applications will be described. |
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