Abstract
Beginning in 2003, the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) enabled an open-access network of distributed sensors and linked computer models through the SURA Coastal Ocean Observing and Predicting (SCOOP) program. The goal was to support collaborations among universities, government, and industry to advance integrated observation and modeling systems. SCOOP improved the path to operational real-time data-guided predictions and forecasts of coastal ocean processes. This was critical to the maritime infrastructure of the U.S. and to the well-being of coastal communities. SCOOP integrated and expanded observations from the Gulf of Mexico, the South Atlantic Bight, the Middle Atlantic Bight, and the Chesapeake Bay. From these successes, a Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) evolved with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funding via the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) to facilitate the transition of key models from research to operations. Since 2010, COMT has been a conduit between the research community and the federal government for sharing and improving models and software tools. SCOOP and COMT have been based on strong partnerships among universities and U.S. agencies that have missions in ocean and coastal environmental prediction. During SURA’s COMT project, which ended September 2018, significant progress was made in evaluating the performance of models that are progressively becoming operational. COMT successes are ongoing.
Highlights
Environmental modeling complements long-term ocean observation programs; together, these are helping scientists to better understand climate and marine ecosystems, as well as human impacts and vulnerabilities [1]
By way of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction Program (SCOOP) and the subsequent Coastal Ocean Model Testbed (COMT) project, numerous collaborators have advanced ocean modeling programs supported by observing technologies
SURA Coastal Ocean Observing and Predicting (SCOOP) partnered with the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System and this interaction was critical in transferring research results to benefit those running GNOME (General National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Operational Modeling Environment), a modeling tool used by NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration [11]
Summary
Environmental modeling complements long-term ocean observation programs; together, these are helping scientists to better understand climate and marine ecosystems, as well as human impacts and vulnerabilities [1]. Validation of model predictions requires continuous long-term data collection and continuing refinement and testing of model codes to ensure that performance meets or exceeds benchmarks [5] These are some of the reasons that coastal ocean observatories have emerged as integrated, operational suites of instruments, permanently deployed to measure meteorological, oceanographic, and geophysical phenomena. This paper outlines the most prominent results of coastal modeling testbed efforts over the past 17 years that have advanced our knowledge of coastal ocean phenomena though observations and improved application of models This experience guides ongoing progress towards a fully operational system of coastal ocean models for high-resolution forecasts that include the influence of climatic and ocean processes downscaled to the coastal ocean
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