Our capabilities are based on world-class research and development carried out by the partner institutes within NCOF. Much of the work undertaken by POL, PML, NOCS and ESSC is funded through the Research Councils, in particular the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), while the MoD funds and guides a large part of the Met Office’s ocean modelling research and development. Through the NCOF partnership this research is integrated into a coordinated programme and targeted to meet existing and emerging user needs.

Our research includes work on:

Ocean modelling

This includes the development of advanced numerical models for the oceans, ranging from the global oceans to the local scale. Our future modelling systems will be based on the Nucleus for European Modelling of the Oceans (NEMO) code — a new ocean model code being developed in collaboration with a range of European ocean modelling institutes.

Ecosystem modelling

We are applying carbon-cycle and biogeochemical models for both the open ocean and UK waters. Through inclusion of the Hadley Centre Ocean Carbon Cycle (HadOCC) model in FOAM, we are able to make predictions of biological parameters for the global oceans. Work is ongoing to develop techniques for assimilation of satellite ocean-colour data to improve initialisation of chlorophyll in the model.

For UK and surrounding waters we are working on the coupled POLCOMS-ERSEM system and developing new products in support of the ecosystem-based approach to managing the marine environment which is being advocated by European governments. ERSEM is a generic model which includes all those processes which significantly influence ecosystem dynamics, and provides outputs which are aligned to OSPAR (Oslo-Paris) convention requirements. Such predictions have the potential to be used for predicting harmful algal blooms.

Ocean observations

Within NCOF we have expertise in in situ observations from global networks such as Argo, Voluntary Observing Ships/Ships of Opportunity through to local systems such as ‘Ferrybox’, moorings and buoys, as well as on remotely sensed data from satellites (SST, ocean colour) and HF radar. Our work focuses on the assimilation of these data into models, and the generation of integrated data products.

Data assimilation

Development of improved techniques for assimilation of in situ information (e.g. salinity from Argo floats) and remotely-sensed data (e.g. altimeter data from Jason-1 and satellite sea ice) underpins all operational ocean forecasting. The NCOF has world leading expertise in this area.

Sea-surface temperature

Through the GODAE (Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment) High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (GHRSST) project, we are developing new global and regional sea-surface temperature products with enhanced accuracy, spatial and temporal coverage, through the merging and analysis of complementary satellite and in situ measurements.

Coastal modelling and observation

Detailed coastal information is vital for many local applications, including shipping, recreation, fishing, coastal flooding, pollutant discharge and water quality. The POL Coastal Observatory is built on real-time measurements and model predictions with particular focus on the Irish Sea and Liverpool Bay. The aim of the Observatory is to understand and predict the response of a coastal sea to both natural forcing and the consequences of human activity. It integrates (near) real-time measurements with coupled models into a pre-operational coastal prediction system whose results are available on the internet.

Access products and services from the Coastal Observatory.

E-science

Through the Environmental Systems Science Centre at Reading, we are making model analysis and forecast data available for non-commercial use via Web Services developed by the NERC e-Science GODIVA project. The GODIVA web portal provides access to FOAM and POLCOMS data in real time, as well as other data from NERC models such as OCCAM. Clients can generate graphical displays — including time-series and movies on-the-fly — as well as selecting subsets of data for download in a variety of client-selected formats. NCOF is thus in the vanguard of developing new Web Service data delivery mechanisms for all potential users.

View and access products from GODIVA.

More details about these forecasts.