Description of the ocean prediction system SOAP 93

The French “Service Hydrographique et Oceanographique de la Marine” (SHOM) conducts a long term program called SOAP which aims at describing the oceanic mesoscale variability in real time using remote sensing data, in situ data and ocean models. The first phase of the program called SOAP 93 consists in assimilating satellite altimetric data into an eddy resolving multilayer open ocean model. The authors first present the main objectives and a functional synopsis of the project. A preliminary version of the system has been tested in a square domain 1000 km on side in 1993 during the multidisciplinary ocean cruise SEMAPHORE using ERS-1 FDP and TOPEX-POSEIDON IGDR altimeter data in quasi-real time. The system was used to provide forecast of the mesoscale variability to the SEMAPHORE research vessels and the impact of ocean variability on sound propagation every week to the Navy users. The operational interest of such a system has been demonstrated. The system is now under evaluation. The preliminary results are encouraging in the context of operational mesoscale forecasting