Acoustic Tomography and Ocean Data Assimilation: Past Results and Future Prospects
Dimitris Menemenlis
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept of Ocean Engineering
In two recent demonstration studies, data from basin-scale acoustic tomography experiments, Thetis-II in the Western Mediterranean and ATOC in the North Pacific, have been combined with TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter data and with a General Circulation Model. Results from these two studies will be reviewed with emphasis on the specific contributions of the acoustic data.
A collaborative effort between three U.S. institutions, SCRIPPS, MIT, and JPL, is under way to produce a next-generation global-ocean data assimilation system. This system will provide a framework for assimilating data from past and future basin-scale acoustic tomography experiments as well as improved boundary conditions for higher resolution regional studies.
