CoAuthors

Smitha Ratheesh (ISRO, India); Seemanth M (ISRO, India); Neeraj Agarwal (ISRO, India); Rashmi Sharma (ISRO, India)

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has a major emphasis on real time application of the satellite based observations towards societal benefits. In accordance with this objective, an earnest attempt has been made to assimilate the AltiKa data in an operational, data assimilative, wave and circulation models used for purpose of forecasting sea state in and around Indian waters. In this operational setup, a SWAN model (Simulating Wave Near-shore) nested in WAM (Wave Model ) is used for wave prediction. Optimum interpolation technique is used for assimilating the SARAL/AltiKa SWH in SWAN model. Princeton Ocean Model (POM) is used for the prediction of ocean circulation. AVHRR derived SST and SLA from SARAL are assimilated in this model using ensemble optimal interpolation technique. Both POM and SWAN have a horizontal resolution of 0.5 degrees. The wave model SWAN has a 25 frequency bin and 24 direction bins. In POM the 26 sigma levels are present. The results clearly indicate significant improvement in the predictability of both models after assimilating the SARAL data. It is evident that SARAL/Altika assimilation is particularly helpful in capturing rough sea states that prevails during the pre and post monsoon cyclone seasons over Indian Ocean. Detailed results will be presented in the workshop.