Summary of the Feb. 2001 Meeting

Our next scheduled telecon is March 1. Any objections?  As for our semi-annual meeting the dates discussed were April 17-18 and April 24-25. I have a conflict on the 18th and Jim M. had a partial conflict on 24-25. My preference is the latter and that we start the afternoon of the 23rd and end by noon on the 25th. Folks from the east coast could still leave early on the 23rd and be in LA by late morning/early afternoon. Let's firm this up on the telecon. Below is a (rather weak) summary of the last telecon. Please send comments/corrections. Will start writing these up right after our discussion from now on. -Francisco

Summary of February 2001 NOPP conference call

1.The physical modelers (McWilliams, Chao) will develop a three component (basin, regional, local) one-way nested model. 

McWilliams and colleagues will create a smaller model domain (Point Conception to Mendocino, 400 km from shore). Jim promised that by the next telecon the model would be running over this smaller domain. Computing resources are adequate at present; JPL is using resources available at NASA/AMES. There is still the need to compare the earlier model output (driven by COADS climatological forcing) with COADS SST. The importance of passing information from the larger scale (basin, regional via one way nesting) was discussed. For example, the NRL basin scale model exhibits an annual downwelling coastally trapped wave during the upwelling season. Not having this information would presumably result in a cold bias in the small/regional model. John Kindle and Jeff Paduan promised to summarize the ICON/NRL modeling efforts, primarily in terms of sensitivity to atmospheric forcing, in writing before the next telecon. 

2.The assembly of atmospheric forcing fields for the physical models back to 1990 will be the responsibility of John Kindle and Yi Chao. 

John relayed results of recent comparisons between modeled and observed heat flux terms that suggested that the atmospheric models were not performing that badly. John will advise further on what products to use for the next set of simulations. Ryan to continue looking into model, satellite and in situ comparisons. 

3.The ecosystem modelers (Chai, Barber, Chavez) will integrate the 10-component ecosystem model into ROAMS. 

A 1-D model will be developed in parallel with the 3-D model. The 1-D model would allow for rapid testing of new algorithms (bio-optics) or schemes (data assimilation). If constructed properly these newly developed pieces could also be rapidly ported to the 3-D model. There seemed to be great interest in the 1-D effort from NRL (Kindle, Paduan) and the ROMS (McWilliams, Chao, Chai) group. Brad Penta will contact those involved and summarize for next telecon. Update: U of Maine 1-D model currently running at MBARI. 

4.A subroutine will be developed that will take the output from the ecosystem model and estimate net and scalar spectral irradiance, and inherent optical properties in the water column. Net spectral irradiance will be used to compute solar heating of the water column, and spectral scalar irradiance will be used to compute primary productivity rates. 

HOBI and MBARI currently working on the problem. 

5.Chao and Sung will develop data assimilation methods for physical (TOPEX, SST, mooring T, S , u, v) and biological (ocean color, mooring chlorophyll, backscatter, Ed, Lu) properties. 

Person to do work hired and work to begin shortly. First testing on 1-D model possible within six months. 

6.Validation fields for MB and CalCOFI to be assembled by MBARI with support from UCSC, HOBI and JPL. 

Validation fields have been assembled (http://www.mbari.org/bog/NOPP). More fields produced as needed.