Ira Ranjan

Ira Ranjan, Plymouth State University

Optimizing Ocean Observing in the Tropical Pacific

Recorded Talk

Ocean observations are critical for forecasting ocean variability and advancing our understanding of the ocean and its role in the climate. However, ocean observing systems are sparse due to high financial costs, large spatial scales, and harsh environments in the ocean. An Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) evaluates proposed observing systems by simulating them using numerical models in order to maximize the impact of costly observing platforms.
In this project, we develop an OSSE approach harnessing existing data assimilation and ocean modeling capabilities to optimize ocean observations in the Equatorial Pacific.  We demonstrate how optimized placement of an observation network improves measurements of target quantities and better represents ocean circulation. This work can be extended to a wide range of sampling problems in the ocean and beyond.

Mentors: Dan Amrhein, Helen Kershaw, Enrico Milanese (WHOI)

Slides and poster