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THE PROJECT WORKS:OVERVIEW
In the comparatively new research field of operational oceanography,
formal and informal cooperation between international science
agencies has facilitated developments, which generate regional
benefits for countries such as Australia.
This level of cooperation begins with the inclusion of Australian
scientists on international science teams—for projects
such as satellite missions and the new wave of ocean-borne
measuring instruments that will be the sentinels of ocean
conditions.
In turn, the data generated by these projects is made freely
available to the science community for inclusion in their
own work.
What all the agencies share is a desire to synthesise and
assimilate real-time data on winds, ocean temperature, salinity
and sea surface height— streaming in hourly from specialist
data centres predominantly in the US, France and Australia—into
a form that can be uploaded to computer models.
Once available to the operational marine prediction models,
forecasts can be developed. The earliest forecasts are expected
to be available by 2005/2006 and delivered primarily through
the Bureau of Meteorology
During the development phase, scientists will be working
closely with the European Centre for Medium-range Weather
Forecasts and United States naval scientists.
Centrepiece of BLUElink>
will be the development of a prototype ocean simulation for
the Australian region, underpinned by an advanced data and
product server system.
The operational experience and infrastructure of the Bureau
of Meteorology, including advanced data systems and the High-Performance
Computing and Communications Centre (HPCCC), will be critical
contributions to the project. This will be coupled with the
internationally acknowledged expertise in marine research
of CSIRO, supported by the Royal Australian Navy and its expertise
as a user for operational applications of the forecast system
and its outputs.
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