| The Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) was conceived in 1997 as apath-finding initiative for operational oceanography. While several agencies already had operational models and services, in general the community lacked the observational power and sophisticated model and data assimilation systems to fully exploit the accrued knowledge and recognized potential. The vision behind GODAE is that new societal and economic advantages can be provided through a global system of observations, communications, modelling and assimilation, that will deliver regular, comprehensive information on the state of the oceans in a way that will promote and engender wide utility and availability of this resource for maximum benefit to society. GODAE is a practical demonstration of feasibility and utility and of near-real-time, routine global ocean data assimilation. Through 2002, individuals and groups have formed a partnership to develop both regional and global prototype systems and have worked with relevant agencies to develop the infrastructure needed for GODAE. This year marks the beginning of the Demonstration Phase (2003-2005) and already many groups are routinely producing ocean analysis and forecasting products, ranging from short-range marine environmental predictions to sophisticated estimates of the ocean climate circulation. This presentation will review the strategy, discuss different aspects of the implementation of GODAE, and provide a context for GODAE within the general context of ocean and climate research. GODAE has a sound technical and scientific basis. Comprehensive integrated, global measurement networks provide the observational foundation, with satellites and Argo playing crucial roles. Full functionality depends on improvements in data management and data and product serving technology and GODAE is fostering innovative solutions to meet these needs. Ocean models and data assimilation provide the power to interpret and extrapolate complex observations into ocean products of broad utility. Several applications will be described, with the focus on value-adding and user products. |
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