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MERCATOR French Ocean System: High-Resolution North Atlantic and Mediterranean Product (assimilation by optimal interpolation of altimetry data only)
Entry ID: PSY2V1

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Summary

Abstract: Mercator has been providing weekly analysis and real-time nowcast (T0), and
forecast (T0+7 days and T0 +14 days) bulletins of the three-dimensional ocean
in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea since January 8th 2003. This
High-resolution bulletin (PSY2V1; 1/15 degree; one point computed every 5 to 7
km throughout the region of interest; eddy-resolving) covers the North Atlantic
and Mediterranean basin. For more information see Mercator Configurations
Summary at "http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/html/mod_actu/public/welcome_en.php3"

Additional information about the Model:
---------------------------------------------------
Mercator ocean system is based on the 8.1 version of the OPA z-coordinates code
(Madec et al. 1998). OPA is an incompressible Navier-Stokes primitive-
equation model using Boussinesq rigid-lid approximation that describes the
temporal evolution of velocity, temperature and salinity in three dimensions.
Mixed layer dynamic is ruled by TKE turbulent closure equations (1.5 closure
scheme) (Blanke et al. 1993). The ocean model configuration used in this
prototype (PSY2) is the high resolution (1/15 degrees) "Prototype Atlantique
Mediterranee" (PAM) between 9 degrees N and 70 degrees N with 43 vertical
levels with layer thicknesses from 6 meters at the surface to 200 meters at the
bottom of the Mediterranean basin and 300 meters at the bottom of the Atlantic
ocean. It includes a very simple thermodynamic ice model ('IF' ice model).
The bathymetry is processed from the Smith and Sandwell (1997) data base and
ETOPO5. Momentum and heat forcings are daily ECMWF forcing. Surface temperature
is restored from Reynolds analyses (Reynolds & Smith, 1994), which include
satellite and in-situ observations. Surface salinity is restored from
climatology. The model is initialized using Reynaud (Reynaud et al. 1998)
seasonal climatology. A relaxation to seasonal Medatlas (2002) climatology is
also applied below 500 meters in the Gulf of Cadiz to represent Mediterranean
Outflow Water.

Assimilation Method:
--------------------------
The data assimilation method (SAM; Systeme d'Assimilation Mercator) used is the
reduced-order optimal interpolation (OI) scheme SOFA (Sub Optimal Filtering of
Altimetry) (De Mey and Benkiran, 2002) coupled with the PALM software coupler
(PALM group, 2000). The baroclinic component is corrected applying a
lifting-lowering method similar to Cooper and Haines method (1996). Data
assimilation is stopped along isobaths 500m towards the coast. Sea level
anomaly (SLA) from Jason1/ERS2-Envisat/GFO is assimilated along track, once a
week. The mean sea surface height (MSSH) used during the assimilation process
is the one from Rio et al. (2003) diagnosed from in-situ observations in the
Atlantic ocean. In the Mediterranean basin, MSSH is made out of several
numerical simulations. Version 1 products assimilates altimetry data (SLA)
only, while version 2 products assimilates altimetry and in situ data (SLA,
Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) and In situ
profiles).

Mercator bulletins contain a range of parameters selected to depict ocean
conditions and dynamics. These include: salinity, temperature, surface
currents, zonal, meridian and vertical velocities, transport, sea surface
height, mixed layer depth, barotropic height, baroclinic height. "Model:
analysis and forecasting" 3D ocean products can be accessed on-line through
Mercator Web Products (full domain and zonal animations, whole maps, zonal
maps, sections and moorings graphs). For additional product information see
"http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/html/produits/description/welcome_en.html".
Mercator web products are designed for a wide audience (freely available),
while numerical products are files for professional users and are available on
a remote server. Please make an e-mail request to products@mercator-ocean.fr
Archive bulletins are also available to identify longer-term patterns.

Mercator web High-resolution North Atlantic and Mediterranean (PSY2V1, 1/15
degrees) products can be browsed on MERCATOR product web site:
"http://bulletin.mercator-ocean.fr/html/welcome_en.jsp"

In the Mersea strand1 european project context, Mercator makes available via an
DODS/Opendap server its PSY2 high-resolution prototype products since
01/06/2003. Mercator also offers access to its products via the LAS implemented
in the Mersea context. Fields provided for the Mersea inter-comparison
exercise are daily mean best estimate fields as well as T0+7 forecast. Class1
(2D and 3D oceanic variables), 2 (sections and moorings), 3 diagnostics are
provided on the Mercator-Mersea DODS/Opendap (password protected). For more
information see "http://strand1.mersea.eu.org/html/strand1/datalinks.html"

For more information about DODS/Opendap and Live Access Server (LAS), see
Numerical products handbook
"http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/html/produits/description/welcome_en.html"

Related URL

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE
Description: Mercator Ocean Main Webpage

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE
Description: Mercator Ocean Web products.
3D modelled ocean: nowcasts and forecasts (medium resolution Atlantic 1/3
degree; high resolution North Atlantic and Mediterranean 1/15 degree; global
low resolution 2 degree); and global observed ocean, data intercomparison and 3
D reconstitution of oceanic fields.

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE
Description: Mersea Ocean modelling system homepage. Access to the Mercator real-time web
image High-resolution North Atlantic and Mediterranean (1/15 degree) products
(public access) and numerical products through LAS and DODS/Opendap (restricted
access)

Link: VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
Description: Mercator Web products hanbook webpage (including the "Model: analysis and
forecasting" products handbook and the "Observed ocean" products handbook).
This handbook gives you the keys to understanding the 2,000 images you can see
every week in the Mercator Web bulletin. The "observed ocean" system is based
on altimetry and in situ data measurements. Additional information about
Mercator configuration can also be found.

Parent DIF

This data set description is a member of a collection. The collection is described in
MERCATOR

Geographic Coverage

N: 67.0 S: -5.0 E: 18.0 W: -100.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Mercator Ocean
Dataset Title: High-resolution North Atlantic and Mediterranean (PSY2V1)
Version: V1 (assimilates altimetry data only)
Online Resource: http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/html/mod_actu/public/welcome_en.php3

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 2003-01-08

Location Keywords

OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Data Resolution
Latitude Resolution: 1/15 degrees (5-7km)
Longitude Resolution: 1/15 degrees (5-7km)
Vertical Resolution: 43 levels from surface to bottom (12-200m)
Temporal Resolution: daily, weekly

ISO Topic Category

ELEVATION
OCEANS

Platform

ERS-2 >European Remote Sensing Satellite-2    [Information]

GFO-1 >GEOSAT FOLLOW-ON-1    [Information]

JASON-1    [Information]

NOAA POES >NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites    [Information]

ENVISAT >Environmental Satellite    [Information]

Instrument

ALTIMETERS    [Information]

RADAR ALTIMETERS    [Information]

CTD >Conductivity, Temperature, Depth    [Information]

DRIFTING BUOYS    [Information]

XBT >Expendable Bathythermographs    [Information]

AVHRR >Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer    [Information]

POSEIDON-2 >JASON-1 RADAR ALTIMETER    [Information]

Project

GODAE >Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment    [Information]

MERSEA >Marine Environment and Security for the European Area    [Information]

MERCATOR >MERCATOR OCEAN-Operational Oceanography    [Information]

Access Constraints

Mercator web real time image products (GIF format) are designed for a wide
audience (freely available, except zonal maps younger than 30 days need
authorized access), while numerical products are files for professional users
and are available on a remote server with authorized access.

Please, you must justify your request to these products. E-mail request to
products@mercator-ocean.fr or download the form

Keywords

model assimilation

altimetry data

sea surface temperature

in situ data

model intercomparison

operational oceanography

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

Data Center

MERCATOR OCEAN-Operational Oceanography, France [Information]
Data Center URL: http://www.mercator-ocean.fr/

Data Center Personnel

Name: GIP MERCATOR OCEAN USER SERVICES
Phone: 33 5 61 39 38 02
Fax: 33 5 61 39 38 99
Email: products at mercator-ocean.fr
Contact Address:
Parc Technologique du Canal
8-10 rue Hermes
City: Ramonville St Agne
Postal Code: 31520
Country: FRANCE

Distribution

Distribution_Media: LAS, DODS/Opendap Access (restricted access), Image Browse (public access)
Distribution_Format: GIF, NetCDF, CF/COARDS

Personnel

VINCENT TOUMAZOU
Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
Email: vincent.toumazou at mercator-ocean.fr

MELANIE F. MEAUX
Role: DIF AUTHOR
Email: gsfc-gcmduso at mail.nasa.gov

Publications/References

Blanke B., and P. Delecluse, 1993 Variability of the tropical Atlantic ocean
simulated by a general circulation model with two different mixed layer
physics. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 23. 1363-1388.

Cooper, M and K.Haines, 1996 Altimeter assimilation with water property
conservation, Journal of Geophysical research, 101, 1059-1077

De Mey, P., M. Benkiran, 2002 A multivariate reduced-order optimal
interpolation method and its application to the Mediterranean basin-scale
circulation. In : Ocean Forecasting, Conceptual basis and applications, N.
Pinardi and J.D. Woods, Eds., Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York,
472pp.

Drillet Y., R. Bourdalle-Badie and L. Siefridt, 2004 The Meddies in the
Mercator North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea eddy resolving model, Journal of
Geophysical research, in press.

Guinehut, S., Larnicol, G., Le Traon, P.Y., 2002 Design of an array of
profiling floats in the North Atlantic from model simulations. Journal of
Marine Systems, 35, 1-9.

Guinehut, S., Le Traon, P.Y., Larnicol, G., Philipps, S., 2004 Combining Argo
and remote-sensing data to estimate the ocean three-dimensional temperature
fields - A first approach based on simulated observations. Journal of Marine
Systems, 46 (1-4), 85-98.

Lagarde, T., Piacentini, A. and Thual O., 2001 A new representation of
data-assimilation methods: The PALM flow-charting approach. Q. J. R. Meteorol.
Soc., 127, 571, 189-207.

Madec G., P. Delecluse, M. Imbard and C. Levy, 1998 OPA8.1, ocean general
circulation model reference manual, Notes du pole de modelisation IPSL, 11.

MEDAR/MEDATLAS Group, MEDAR/MEDATLAS 2002 database Cruise inventory, observed
and analysed data of temperature and bio-chemical parameters (4 CD-Roms).

PALM group, Towards the implementation of a PALM coupler, 2000 State of play on
the PALM project, CERFACS technical report.

Reynaud T., P. Legrand, H. Mercier and B. Barnier, 1998 A new analysis of
hydrographic data in the Atlantic and its application to an inverse modelling
study, International WOCE newsletter, 32, 29-31.

Reynolds R.W. and Smith. T., 1994 Improved global sea surface temperature
analysis using optimum interpolation, Journal of Climate, 929-948.

Rio, M.-H., and F. Hernandez, 2003b A Mean Dynamic Topography computed over the
world ocean from altimetry, in-situ measurements and a geoid model, Journal of
Geophysical Research.

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2004-12-28

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-04-15

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