Ocean currents in the Navy Earth System Prediction Capability

Ocean current observations are used to evaluate upper ocean currents simulated by the fully coupled Navy Earth System Prediction Capability. The ocean and atmosphere components of the system are an eddy-resolving (1/12.5° equatorial resolution) version of the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model, and a T359L60 version of the Navy Global Environmental Model, respectively. The system was integrated in hindcast mode to generate 13 different ocean states (one control experiment, and a 12-member ensemble). The ocean currents from the control experiment and the ensemble mean are compared against unassimilated observations, and the ocean currents simulated by the Global Ocean Forecast System. The importance of the ocean-atmosphere coupling is emphasized in the comparison of the results, which shows the Navy Earth System Prediction Capability with better ocean current performance than the Global Ocean Forecast System.