UKMO operational systems


Product description

UKMO runs two systems, the Forecasting Ocean Assimilation Model (FOAM) and the GloSea coupled ocean-atmosphere modelling system. FOAM outputs daily operational short-range deep ocean forecasts out to 5 days. It is a nested model starting from 1° globally to high resolution regional models. Various data types are assimilated into FOAM including:

  • satellite SST
  • along-track altimeter SSH
  • in situ temperature and salinity data (including Argo floats)
GloSea assimilates in situ temperature and salinity in the same manner as FOAM to provide seasonal forecasts once a week.

Ocean parameters

The following real-time parameter analyses and forecasts of the FOAM system can be found here:

  • Temperature and anomalies at various depths
  • Salinity and anomalies at various depths
  • Velocity and velocity plus wind vector
Additionally, these same analyses and forecasts, but in delayed mode, plus others from the FOAM system can be found and downloaded here in the form of maps or gridded data.

The following parameter outputs of the GloSea system can be found here (all links are on the right of the page under "About"):

  • Monthly temperature forecasts up to 6 months out
  • Monthly rain forecasts up to 6 months out
  • El Nino SST anomaly forecast
  • Regional seasonal forecasts
  • Global SST forecasts
All the GloSea products are available in the form of maps or plots.

Resolution

FOAM
GloSea
Horizontal Resolution
  • Global 1° grid
  • Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian Oceans with 35 km grids
  • North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Arabian Sea with 12 km grids
Atmospheric component:
  • 3.75° east-west
  • 2.5° north-south
Oceanic component:
  • 1.25° east-west
  • 0.3-1.25° north-south
Vertical Resolution
20 levels
Atmospheric: 19 levels
Oceanic: 40 levels
Spatial
coverage
  • Global
  • Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian Oceans
  • North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Arabian Sea
Global


FOAM: Temperature 6/4/2007

GloSea: More likely 2m temperature tercile categories Mar/Apr/May
Issued: February 2007
FOAM model configurations

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