Abstract's details

The impact of the assimilation of altimeters and Sentinel-1 wave data in the wave model MFWAM

Lotfi Aouf (Division Marine et Océanographie Météo-France, France)

Event: 2014 Ocean Surface Topography Science Team Meeting

Session: Near Real Time Products and Applications and Multi-Mission, Multi-Sensor Observations

Presentation type: Oral

Ocean waves play an important role in the exchange processes (heat and energy) at the air-sea interface. The satellite wave observations are very helpful in order to improve the sea state forecast and a better understanding of some physical processes at the sea surface. Since the launch of Sentinel-1 in April 2014 (ESA) the level 2 wave data from the advanced synthetic aperture radar (ASAR) provide the directional wave spectra for long waves with a certain cut-off. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of the combined assimilation of altimeters wave data (Jason-2, Saral and Cryosat-2) and the directional wave spectra from Sentinel-1 on the wave forecasting system of Météo-France. Assimilation runs are performed in the wave model MFWAM for the global scale. Quality control procedure is implemented for the ASAR wave data and the cut-off on the wave spectrum is also examined. The impact of the assimilation is discussed in the period of analysis and forecast. Particular attention is considered to analyse the contribution of each source of wave observations in the impact of the assimilation. The validation of the results with independent wave observations (NDBC buoys) is performed. The system is tested for high swell generated by severe storms. Further discussions and conclusions will be presented in the final paper.

Contribution: 29Red0900-5_ostst_constance_aouf_2014.pdf (pdf, 9523 ko)

Corresponding author:

Lotfi Aouf

Division Marine et Océanographie Météo-France

France

lotfi.aouf@meteo.fr

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