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GODAE Equatorial Intercomparison Experiment
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Objectives
The objective of an intercomparison experiment in the
equatorial Pacific is focused specifically towards
evaluation and testing of systems for initialisation of
seasonal-to-interannual predictions, with a goal of
developing a standard set of metrics for validation of
equatorial models that would be maintained by
operational systems on a regular basis.
Intercomparison experiments
Discussions at both the International Workshop on
GODAE with Focus on the Pacific, held at the IPRC,
Hawaii, July 2001, and at annual meetings of CLIVARs
Working Group on Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction
(WGSIP) have evoked much interest and support for such
intercomparison experiments. The intercomparison would
be primarily through common graphical output, and the
experiments would not be controlled participants
would use different models, resolution, forcing.
For such intercomparisons, the key is documentation of
the model, and the experimental set up. Use of
standard graphics and software tools such as the LAS
will facilitate the intercomparisons without the need
to collect the output into a central repository.
The comparisons will be based on analyses of the
historical database as well as on real-time
systems. Analyses will focus on equatorial
Pacific sections and a few meridional sections between
30oS and 30 oN. In addition
to the real-time or time-varying structure in the upper
300m, the climatologies of temperature, salinity, and
zonal currents will be analysed. A set of
diagnostics/metrics of interest have been
outlined. Interest in participating in this
intercomparison has been expressed by ECMWF, BMRC,
NSIPP, COLA, JMA, LODYC, but this participation will
undoubtedly broaden as the plans for intercomparison
are more widely disseminated. The IGST will take
the lead in developing and coordinating this activity.
As a contribution to the GODAE Equatorial Pacific
intercomparison experiments, the Consortium for Ocean
Data Assimilation for Seasonal-to-Interannual
prediction
(ODASI)
has undertaken experiments to evaluate different
assimilation systems using the GODAE diagnostics
metrics. Using the same input data streams and
quality-controlled observations, different models and
assimilation systems are used to generate a common set
of output data for evaluation. Participation in the
intercomparison is open to interested parties
conducting routine basin-wide analyses and forecasts.
Participants can:
1) post their datasets on their own
servers that are accessible through the
GODAE LAS server in Monterey;
2) send extracted diagnostics for inclusion in
web-based analysis tools to Dr. Chaojiao Sun
(csun@janus.gsfc.nasa.gov)
of the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office
at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
The comparison results will be posted on the website.
For more information, see the document
Metrics for the Tropical
Oceans, With Focus on the Tropical Pacific
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