3

DWNDAC2005
“ Downscaling, data assimilation and forecasting in regional and coastal ocean models: from methodological aspects to operational needs”

Coriolis room - Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées
14 avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, France

September 8-9, 2005

Under the scientific patronage of the MFSTEP and MERSEA European R&D projects (DG XII FP5-6)
Sponsored by the Conseil Général of the Midi-Pyrénées region

This workshop will primarily aim at discussing methodological developments in progress within the MFSTEP and MERSEA European projects concerning (1) the downscaling of basin-scale estimates and forecasts of hydrodynamical ocean models to regional and coastal (shelf) domains and specification of initial and boundary conditions; (2) data assimilation of local data not used or incompletely used in larger-scale models; (3) forecasting in the local models. The areas of interest will be the major coastal zones, with a particular focus on the near Atlantic and Mediterranean. We will also be seeking the point of view of regional and coastal modellers and forecasters within these two communities and outside of them.

Finally, we will discuss the potential of these methodologies to address the needs of operational oceanography and the development of ocean services. For practical reasons and in order to facilitate discussion and the definition of main axes for the years to come, the attendance will be limited to partners in the aforementioned projects, invited colleagues, and their collaborators. Poster space will be provided if needed.

MFSTEP partners will have the opportunity to publish their presented work in the Internet journal “EGU Ocean Science” (Dec 2005 deadline).

Thursday, September 8

08:30 Bus from city centre
09:00 Start of meeting
09:00 De Mey, Lux: Objectives of workshop and practical organisation

Part 1 : Ongoing methodological developments in MFSTEP and MERSEA

This part will review in some detail the current progress on R&D of downscaling and data assimilation methods in regional and coastal models in both projects, illustrate the concepts with some results, and provide some time for discussion of individual approaches.

Detailed research talks by MFSTEP-WP7 and MERSEA-WP10 partners:
Speakers: please leave 10' at end for discussion

09:15 Blayo et al. : Grid refinement and specification of open boundary conditions with AGRIF

09:55 Auclair, Lux et al. : Initialisation and boundary forcing of coastal ocean models – The VIFOP tool

10:30 Coffee break

10:50 De Mey, Auclair et al. : Estimation, prediction, and array design in coastal/shelf seas using ensemble methods

11:25 Taillandier and Devenon : Identification of initial and boundary conditions with 4D-var using interior observations

12:05 Vandenbulcke et al. : Data assimilation in two-way nested models

12:45 Lunch buffet (Lyot Room)

Part 2 : Research status in the community

This part reviews the status of some of the relevant coastal research in the oceanographic community, pertaining to modelling, observations and data assimilation.

Research talks by participants (see tentative list further down).
Talk: 15' – Discussion: 5'

14:00 Reconvene

15:40 Coffee break

17:20 Adjourn

17:30 Bus to city centre

Dinner on your own

Friday, September 9

08:30 Bus from city centre
09:00 Reconvene
11:00 End of part 2 and coffee break

Tentative list of talks in Part 2:

Marsaleix et al.: What information can coastal modellers extract from general circulation solutions?

Skliris et al.: Downscaling, assimilation and forecasting in the Eastern Mediterranean

Zodiatis et al.: Downscaling and forecasting with CYCOFOS and user applications

Davidson et al. : Downscaling and assimilation in a regional observation and forecasting system in Newfoundland

Oddo et al. : The ADRICOSM regional exercise

Marchesiello, Echevin et al. : Please provide title

Morrow et al. : Satellite altimetry for the observation of coastal scales

Andreu-Burillo et al.: Data assimilation in the Irish Sea with the EnKF

Jordà et al. : Data assimilation in the Catalan sea

She et al. : Data assimilation and observational array design in the ODON project

Mourre et al. : Please provide title

Letellier and Lyard : An ensemble-based representer method for assimilation in tidal models

Bertino et al. : Non-Gaussian data assimilation

• Feel free to change authors/title, remove and add talks. There is time for approx. 14 talks in total. If needed poster space will be provided.

Part 3 : Challenges and needs of coastal operational oceanography

Here we will focus on several particular issues: quantitative estimation of coastal marine parameters, forecasting, and the R&D needed towards providing ocean services at the regional/coastal scales. One of the objectives of this session is to show where the need is in terms of downscaling in operational oceanography.

Tentative list of talks by invited participants:
Talk: 15' – Discussion: 5'

11:20 Pinardi et al.: Downscaling of models and of observational networks in MFS and MOON

11:40 Holt et al. : The Met Office view of regional and coastal operational oceanography

12:00 Obaton et al. : The MERCATOR view of regional and coastal operational oceanography

12:20 De Roeck et al. : The IFREMER view of regional and coastal operational oceanography

12:40 Buch et al. : The role of downscaling and coastal data assimilation in ECOOP

13:00 Lunch buffet (Lyot Room)

Final words

14:00 Coffee available during discussions

14:00 Discussion: how can research help provide better services in coastal and shelf seas? (moderators: Holt, De Roeck)

15:00 De Mey : Discussion: Meeting wrap-up, remaining scientific challenges, opportunities for funding and collaborative work (moderators: De Mey, Barnier)

16:00 End of meeting

16:15 Bus to city centre