GODAE is sponsored by
The CSS projects
Northeast Atlantic
P28 - MERCATOR FAÇADE
To improve the realism of its system near the coast, Mercator Océan is currently developing a regional system of the South European Atlantic, named Façade, with a resolution of 1/36° nested in the global system.
The regional Façade model uses the European NEMO version of the OPA code, which includes free surface and partial cells on the vertical. Its open boundaries will be forced by daily average data of temperature, salinity, U and V velocities and surface elevation from global Mercator. Multivariate data assimilation will be used.
Project name, acronym
MERCATOR "Façade"
Domain
Atlantic Arc (South-western Europe): North of Ireland to Canaries Island and 24°W to the coast
Objectives
To improve the Mercator global system near to the shelf and coast on SW Europe
Type:
Real-time monitoring and prediction, reanalysis
Operational objectives:
Service of initial and boundary conditions to coastal modellers
Customers:
Coastal modelling users
- French Navy (SHOM) and research institutes: CNRS, IFREMER, IRD which are consortium members of Mercator Océan
- IBI-ROOS partners : IMI (Ireland), IST/MARETEC (Portugal), ESEOO (Spain)
Funding aspects:
Self funding, budget from the Navy and from European project (ECOOP, EASY if accepted). The objective is to study the currents and ecosystem in the North Sea.
Downscaling strategy
Nest regional "Façade" on GODAE-MERSEA global system
Modelling strategy:
Use of NEMO European code (OPA1.9, free surface, partial cells on vertical). High resolution horizontal system, 1/36°, nested in global ¼° which will be upgraded to 1/12°.
Forcings:
Atmospheric forcings from ARPEGE (Météo France), open boundary conditions from GODAE/MERSEA global system.
Variables estimated:
Temperature, salinity, radial and zonal velocities, surface elevation, mixed layer depth
Prediction range:
Do not know yet, 14 days if chosen the same as global system.
| Why does this project need large-scale estimates? | To take into account the large scale circulation which influences the circulation near to the coast especially when crossing the slope |
| Boundary conditions, more sophisticated downscaling schemes, etc., on/off-line? | Boundary conditions, offline. |
| What particular GODAE estimates does this project use, how often, etc.? | Temperature, salinity, U and V velocities, surface elevation will be used once a day. |
| Through which Modelling/Assimilation Center? | Mercator-Océan |
| Does project have a verification/validation strategy which can help assess the impact of large-scale estimates? | Yes. Comparison on the gulf of Biscay of several systems (using different codes) without and with large scale circulation from open sea system. |
Project status
Under development.
Plans for collaboration with the future of the Spanish operational oceanographic project, following of actual ESEOO.
(Last Updated: 17-01-2008)