Status: this preprint was under review for the journal OS. A revision for further review has not been submitted.
Application of EnOI Assimilation in BCC_CSM1.1: Twin Experiments for Assimilating Sea Surface Data and T/S Profiles
Wei Zhou,Jinghui Li,Fang-Hua Xu,and Yeqiang Shu
Wei Zhou
State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Jinghui Li
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, and Department Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Fang-Hua Xu
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, and Department Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Yeqiang Shu
State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Abstract. We applied an Ensemble Optimal Interpolation (EnOI) data assimilation method in the BCC_CSM1.1 to investigate the impact of ocean data assimilations on seasonal forecasts in an idealized twin-experiment framework. Pseudo-observations of sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH), sea surface salinity (SSS), temperature and salinity (T/S) profiles were first generated in a free model run. Then, a series of sensitivity tests initialized with predefined bias were conducted for a one-year period; this involved a free run (CTR) and seven assimilation runs. These tests allowed us to check the analysis field accuracy against the truth. As expected, data assimilation improved all investigated quantities; the joint assimilation of all variables gave more improved results than assimilating them separately. One-year predictions initialized from the seven runs and CTR were then conducted and compared. The forecasts initialized from joint assimilation of surface data produced comparable SST root mean square errors to that from assimilation of T/S profiles, but the assimilation of T/S profiles is crucial to reduce subsurface deficiencies. The ocean surface currents in the tropics were better predicted when initial conditions produced by assimilating T/S profiles, while surface data assimilation became more important at higher latitudes, particularly near the western boundary currents. The predictions of ocean heat content and mixed layer depth are significantly improved initialized from the joint assimilation of all the variables. Finally, a central Pacific El Niño was well predicted from the joint assimilation of surface data, indicating the importance of joint assimilation of SST, SSH, and SSS for ENSO predictions.
Received: 28 Apr 2017 – Discussion started: 06 Jun 2017
we applied EnOI assimilation method with a global ocean model (MOM4.0) to estimate three-dimensional global ocean states when assimilating various variables, e.g., SST, SSH, SSS, and T/S profiles, in an idealized twin-experiment framework. The ocean surface currents in the tropics were better predicted when initial conditions produced by assimilating T/S profiles, while surface data assimilation became more important at higher latitudes, particularly near the western boundary currents.
we applied EnOI assimilation method with a global ocean model (MOM4.0) to estimate...