4
NEVILLE SMITH
The modern era of oceanography has been shaped by at least three
factors. First, costs and logistical considerations have driven the
development of mooring and autonomous underwater and surface
technology. These advances combined with real-time telemetry not only
make synoptic observation of the ocean practical, but allow data to be
delivered to models quickly.
A second significant factor is satellites. The vastness of the oceans has,
and will forever, preclude near-simultaneous sampling of the oceans by
conventional, in situ instrumentation, even at the surface. Remote sensing
offers the promise of ocean data over all regions of the globe, nearsimultaneously, though restricted to a surface view.
A third factor is related to both the previous factors - computing. The
growth in computational capacity over the last 50 years has been
phenomenal. For observationalists, it has revolutionized instrumentation,
allowing more detailed and accurate recording and near-instantaneous
processing, both on research ships and on moorings and autonomous
devices, and in land-based laboratories. Computing power was the key
enabling technology for satellites. Computers have revolutionized the
capacity of ocean modelers to represent the circulation of the actual ocean. It
is this capacity, as much as any other, which has underpinned the evolution
of modern oceanography to the point where routine, operational
oceanography is feasible and the concept of GODAE, makes sense.
The legacy from ocean research experiments such as the Tropical Ocean
Global Atmosphere Experiment (TOGA; McPhaden et al.,1998) and the
World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE; e.g., Smith 2001) is also very
important. TOGA developed systematic observation and routine prediction
of seasonal-to-interannual climate variations (e.g., El Nino) with
requirements closely related to those of GODAE and operational
oceanography. WOCE introduced many innovations in observation and
developed the models and assimilation methods that are the basis for many
GODAE systems.
Perspective #1:
Scientific and technical advances over the last
century, including accrued knowledge of the dynamics and physics of
the ocean, provide the basis for developing the systems of GODAE.
3.
Lessons from meteorology
At the First GODAE Symposium, Dr. Tim Palmer delivered a lecture
“En Route to GODAE: A brief history of NWP” (see
www.bom.gov.au/GODAE) and, within that lecture, he cited from Charney
NEVILLE SMITH
The modern era of oceanography has been shaped by at least three
factors. First, costs and logistical considerations have driven the
development of mooring and autonomous underwater and surface
technology. These advances combined with real-time telemetry not only
make synoptic observation of the ocean practical, but allow data to be
delivered to models quickly.
A second significant factor is satellites. The vastness of the oceans has,
and will forever, preclude near-simultaneous sampling of the oceans by
conventional, in situ instrumentation, even at the surface. Remote sensing
offers the promise of ocean data over all regions of the globe, nearsimultaneously, though restricted to a surface view.
A third factor is related to both the previous factors - computing. The
growth in computational capacity over the last 50 years has been
phenomenal. For observationalists, it has revolutionized instrumentation,
allowing more detailed and accurate recording and near-instantaneous
processing, both on research ships and on moorings and autonomous
devices, and in land-based laboratories. Computing power was the key
enabling technology for satellites. Computers have revolutionized the
capacity of ocean modelers to represent the circulation of the actual ocean. It
is this capacity, as much as any other, which has underpinned the evolution
of modern oceanography to the point where routine, operational
oceanography is feasible and the concept of GODAE, makes sense.
The legacy from ocean research experiments such as the Tropical Ocean
Global Atmosphere Experiment (TOGA; McPhaden et al.,1998) and the
World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE; e.g., Smith 2001) is also very
important. TOGA developed systematic observation and routine prediction
of seasonal-to-interannual climate variations (e.g., El Nino) with
requirements closely related to those of GODAE and operational
oceanography. WOCE introduced many innovations in observation and
developed the models and assimilation methods that are the basis for many
GODAE systems.
Perspective #1:
Scientific and technical advances over the last
century, including accrued knowledge of the dynamics and physics of
the ocean, provide the basis for developing the systems of GODAE.
3.
Lessons from meteorology
At the First GODAE Symposium, Dr. Tim Palmer delivered a lecture
“En Route to GODAE: A brief history of NWP” (see
www.bom.gov.au/GODAE) and, within that lecture, he cited from Charney