Barciela¹, Rosa M., Mike J. Bell, Adrian Hines, Steven Spall and Spencer Liddicoat

¹Met. Office, London Road, Bracknell, RG12 2SY, UK, Tel: +44 (0)1344 856512, Fax: +44 (0)1344 854499, E-mail: rosa.barciela@metoffice.com

Embedding an ecosystem model (HadOCC) in a global Forecasting Ocean Assimilation Model (FOAM)

The Forecasting Ocean Assimilation Model (FOAM) consists of a series of operational ocean models that use data assimilation to produce daily analysis and forecasts of temperature, salinity, ocean currents and mixed layer depth up to five days ahead. The data assimilation component of FOAM is based on in situ as well as satellite observations. FOAM is driven by six-hourly surface fluxes from the Met. Offices operational Numerical Weather Prediction system. The global version of FOAM consists of a 1° x 1° horizontal resolution model and 20 unequally spaced vertical levels. A regional (North Atlantic) version of FOAM, nested within the global model and with 1/3° horizontal grid resolution, is also part of the FOAM suite.

The ecosystem model embedded in FOAM is the Hadley Centre Ocean Carbon Cycle (HadOCC) model. The model consists of five compartments: phytoplankton, zooplankton, nitrate, ammonium and sinking detritus. The coupled model uses a spectrally averaged light model for phytoplankton photosynthesis and a variable C:Chl ratio.

This presentation will show preliminary results from coupling the HadOCC model to global and 1/3° North Atlantic FOAM. Model results will be compared to satellite (SeaWifs) and in situ data.