2
NEVILLE SMITH
assimilated into state-of-the art models of the global ocean circulation in
near real-time to demonstrate utility.
GODAE recognized the pioneering work in operational oceanography in
the U.S. (see Peloquin, 1992, and other papers within that special volume)
and the fact that interest in building a broader global capability was
emerging in several nations (for example, MERCATOR in France; Bahurel,
this volume). This work, among others, guided the development of the
concept and ultimately the strategy (International GODAE Steering Team
(IGST), 2000) and implementation plan (http://www.bom.gov.au/GODAE/).
As with many international initiatives, GODAE by itself does not
provide resources or develop capacity. Rather it relies on the resources and
capacity derived from national or regional initiatives and GODAE’s role is
one of coordination and cooperation and, for example, introducing standards
and references for the business of operational oceanography.
This paper recounts the development of GODAE and some perspectives
drawn from experience and from those who are thinking of the future of
operational ocean analysis and prediction. In order to provide a little context
for GODAE in relation to the evolution of ocean science and the
development of weather prediction, Section 2 discusses some historical
aspects and section 3 some of the lessons learnt from numerical weather
prediction. Section 4 discusses the rationale and scope while section 5
introduces the core components. Other chapters of this volume examine
these components (e.g., observations, models, assimilation) in more detail.
Section 6 discusses applications and the utility of GODAE products and
some of the issues surrounding the use of model products. Again, there are
several papers in this volume (e.g., Hackett et al.) that go into this area in
more detail. Section 7 discusses methods the GODAE community is using to
test and validate their products and services. Section 8 discusses the user
community and implications for the systems and methods being developed
within GODAE. The final section provides some brief conclusions.
2.
A little history
Scientific observation of the oceans did not begin in earnest till about the
nineteenth century; till this time, exploration and expanding ocean trade
routes were the primary concern. Advances in communication technology
led to the idea of using under-sea cables to connect the American and
European continents. This required knowledge of the sea bed and thus led to
exploration of the depth of the ocean; until this point, almost all knowledge
of the oceans was derived from surface observation. Along with the
improvements in knowledge of the depth of the sea, it was discovered that
NEVILLE SMITH
assimilated into state-of-the art models of the global ocean circulation in
near real-time to demonstrate utility.
GODAE recognized the pioneering work in operational oceanography in
the U.S. (see Peloquin, 1992, and other papers within that special volume)
and the fact that interest in building a broader global capability was
emerging in several nations (for example, MERCATOR in France; Bahurel,
this volume). This work, among others, guided the development of the
concept and ultimately the strategy (International GODAE Steering Team
(IGST), 2000) and implementation plan (http://www.bom.gov.au/GODAE/).
As with many international initiatives, GODAE by itself does not
provide resources or develop capacity. Rather it relies on the resources and
capacity derived from national or regional initiatives and GODAE’s role is
one of coordination and cooperation and, for example, introducing standards
and references for the business of operational oceanography.
This paper recounts the development of GODAE and some perspectives
drawn from experience and from those who are thinking of the future of
operational ocean analysis and prediction. In order to provide a little context
for GODAE in relation to the evolution of ocean science and the
development of weather prediction, Section 2 discusses some historical
aspects and section 3 some of the lessons learnt from numerical weather
prediction. Section 4 discusses the rationale and scope while section 5
introduces the core components. Other chapters of this volume examine
these components (e.g., observations, models, assimilation) in more detail.
Section 6 discusses applications and the utility of GODAE products and
some of the issues surrounding the use of model products. Again, there are
several papers in this volume (e.g., Hackett et al.) that go into this area in
more detail. Section 7 discusses methods the GODAE community is using to
test and validate their products and services. Section 8 discusses the user
community and implications for the systems and methods being developed
within GODAE. The final section provides some brief conclusions.
2.
A little history
Scientific observation of the oceans did not begin in earnest till about the
nineteenth century; till this time, exploration and expanding ocean trade
routes were the primary concern. Advances in communication technology
led to the idea of using under-sea cables to connect the American and
European continents. This required knowledge of the sea bed and thus led to
exploration of the depth of the ocean; until this point, almost all knowledge
of the oceans was derived from surface observation. Along with the
improvements in knowledge of the depth of the sea, it was discovered that