The Research component of the modelling facility is somewhat upstream the Forecasting system. It is an important part of the modelling facility since all the forecasting systems have been developed by SOCIB itself. This component is divided in different sub-sections in order to answer to specific questions:
1. How the realism of the oceanic simulations can be improved (both hindcast and forecast) ?
Biases in ocean models can be due to several factors such as atmospheric forcing (precipitations, wind stress parametrization, wind baises ...), biases in initial and boundary conditions, etc. Therefore, three main axes are developed in order to answer to this question:
- Processess study at sub-bassin scale: it aims to understand the sub-scale variability and its impact on the large scale circulation
- Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave: cases studies simulations are implemented in order to understand the sea-air-wave interactions and improve the exchange ocean-atmosphere.
- Data assimilation: first implementation of 4DVAR and EnKF assimilation scheme are on going. By assimilating both remote sensing and in situ data (such as glider), it could correct biases in the model and then improve the forecast.
2. How to improve the Meteotsunamis prevision ?
3. Understand the physical biological coupling in the Western Mediterranean Sea.
