CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
Past Seminars

Friday, 29 August 2003 11.30am (Tas time)

CSIRO Auditorium and via videoconference to Floreat (Rossiter Room in Livestock Industries) and Cleveland

John Parslow
CSIRO Marine Research

The Marine Environmental Variability and Prediction Research Group

Marine Environmental Variability and Prediction (MEVP) is one of 9 Research Groups established by CMR to design and implement its research strategy over the next 5 years. MEVP aims to build on advances in observation technologies, computer modelling and scientific understanding to provide improved knowledge and predictive capability for the oceans and coastal seas around Australia.

A centrepiece of MEVP research is a major new project, developed in partnership with Bureau of Meteorology and Royal Australian Navy, to develop an ocean forecasting system for the Australian region, analogous to numerical weather forecasting systems developed by meteorologists. The ocean forecasting system will combine satellite data, new in situ automated profilers and data-assimilating supercomputer models to provide eddy-resolving nowcasts and forecasts for oceans surrounding Australia. The project also aims to develop automated nested coastal models which can extend this capability across the continental shelf to nearshore environments.

While short-term ocean forecasts are needed for operational purposes, we expect the unprecedented knowledge of the physical oceanographic environment provided by data-assimilating model nowcasts and hindcasts to underpin advances across a whole range of marine disciplines and applications. MEVP itself will aim to extend these approaches to include biogeochemistry and marine primary production, by integrating biogeochemical and hydrodynamic models, across a range of nested ocean and coastal scales, developing techniques for data-assimilation of in situ and remotely sensed (ocean colour) data, and undertaking targeted process studies. Science issues to be addressed include the role of mesoscale processes in ocean production, and the importance of offshore-onshore interactions across the continental shelf.

Linkages and partnerships will play a critical role, both in achieving MEVP's science goals, and realising the potential benefits for other research areas. MEVP will share observation platforms and model development with the Climate Research Group, and MEVP models will play a key role in downscaling marine climate change scenarios. MEVP will work closely with other Research Groups to ensure that advances in knowledge of circulation and primary production are incorporated into the science underpinning marine ecosystem and fisheries management.

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