LORA: a local ensemble transform Kalman filter-based ocean research analysis

We have produced an eddy-resolving local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF)-based ocean research analysis (LORA) for the western North Pacific (WNP) and Maritime Continent (MC) regions (LORA-WNP and LORA-MC, respectively). This paper describes the system configuration and validation comparisons with Japan Coastal Ocean Predictability Experiment 2M (JCOPE2M) reanalysis and Archiving, Validation, and Interpretation of Satellite Oceanographic Data (AVISO) observational datasets. The results show that the surface horizontal velocity in the LORA-WNP is closer to independent drifter buoy observations in the mid-latitude region, especially along the Kuroshio Extension (KE), and is less close in the subtropical region than the JCOPE2M, although the AVISO is the closest over the whole domain. The sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the LORA-WNP correspond better to assimilated satellite observations than the JCOPE2M over most of the domain except for coastal regions. The results using an independent buoy south of the KE indicate that better fit of temperature in the LORA-WNP may be limited to the upper 300 m depth, probably because of the prescribed vertical localization cutoff length of 370 m. In the MC region, the surface velocity in the LORA-MC is closer to the independent drifter buoys in the equatorial coastal region and is less close in the offshore region than the AVISO. The SSTs in the LORA-MC correspond better to the assimilated satellite observations in the offshore region than the nearshore region. Therefore, the LORA-WNP and LORA-MC have sufficient accuracy for geoscience research applications as well as for fisheries, marine transport, and environment consultants.

Automated summary

This paper presents an eddy-resolving local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF)-based research analysis system, LORA-WNP and LORA-MC, for the western North Pacific (WNP) and Maritime Continent (MC) regions, respectively. Validation comparisons with JCOPE2M reanalysis and AVISO observational datasets show that LORA-WNP has better agreement in surface horizontal velocity with independent drifter buoy observations in the mid-latitude region, especially along the Kuroshio Extension (KE), while LORA-MC has closer agreement in surface velocity with independent drifter buoys in the equatorial coastal region. The results also demonstrate that LORA-WNP and LORA-MC have sufficient accuracy for geoscience research applications as well as for fisheries, marine transport, and environment consultants.