The Turbidity Plume Model simulates the possiblity of a plume developing at the Ala Wai Canal, Oʻahu. The plume position and turbidity values are determined by the results of the ROMS Ocean Circulation Model configured for Waikīkī with input from SWAN (waves) and WRF (atmosphere). The model also uses near real-time river runoff and turbidity measurements from the Mānoa-Palolo stream that flow into the Ala Wai Canal.
IOOS Modeling Community of Practice Models and Products
IOOS® data comes from a variety of instruments that are part of the nationwide observing system, including buoys, high frequency radar systems, water level sensors and gliders. Understanding the current and future state of our Nation’s coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes from these disparate and complex data sets is a challenge.
The IOOS® Regional Associations, academic, industry, and local and state government partners use models and tailored model products to understand and communicate current marine conditions, and forecast future marine conditions. Multiple user focused applications and products are often developed from one model, making the IOOS® Modeling Community of Practice model portfolio efficient and specifically tailored to stakeholder needs in their respective regions. IOOS® delivers and disseminates these models, forecasts, and products so that decision-makers can take action to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect the environment.
Often, models developed by IOOS® partners are transitioned to NOAA for operational use; these are not included in the IOOS® modeling catalog, but are included in NOAA’s Operational Forecast Systems and Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) forecasts. Additional model outputs from IOOS® partners can also be visualized in the IOOS® Model Viewer.
WHY USE MODELS?
IOOS uses models to understand current marine conditions, and forecast and predict future marine conditions.
Data Models organize and standardize data elements to understand how they relate to one another and to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes properties
Model Applications translate and visualize modeling outputs to make data easier to see and understand.
Catalog of Models and Products
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Region: Pacific
Time Range: nowcast; 72-hour forecast
Model Component: ROMS
Outputs: Turbidity, Water Quality
Products:
Active
STOFS-2D Global is the most accurate published global non data-assimilative tidal model. It is an ADCIRC-Based Forecasting System Operated at the University of Notre Dame in the Computational Hydraulics Laboratory that provides global forecasts of total water level.
Region: Global
Time Range: 7-day forecast
Model Component: ADCIRC
Outputs: Coastal Hazards, Flooding, Hurricane, Inundation, Water Level, Wind
Historical
This tool offers a modeled 3D representation of the oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of Alaska from 1993 to 2023. Created using the ROMS hydrodynamic and COBALT biogeochemical models, it represents fundamental physical aspects, such as temperature or salinity, along with the lower trophic levels ranging from bacteria to large zooplankton.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: hindcasts
Model Component: ROMS
Outputs: Alkalinity, Chlorophyll-A, CO2, Currents, Dissolved Oxygen, Ice Thickness, Ice Velocity, Nitrate, Oxygen, Phosphate, Phytoplankton, Sea Surface Height, Temperature, Velocity, Zooplankton
In order to explore the Long Island Sound (LIS) circulation and the wave dynamics at the coastal area, the University of Connecticut runs a numerical hydrodynamic- wave coupled model in the region. The model corresponds to the Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM)
Region: Atlantic
Time Range: nowcast; 48-hour forecast,
Model Component: FVCOM
Outputs: Currents, Waves
Products:
Active
The PacIOOS Harbor Surge Forecast provides advance notice of potentially dangerous surges in Hawaiian harbors.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 6-day forecast
Outputs: Storm Surge
Products:
Active
The Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast is a tool to predict higher than usual sea level at locations such as protected harbors and atoll lagoons. This forecast does not incorporate the effects of wind-generated gravity waves, either locally or remotely forced, and therefore does not indicate the magnitude of short-period surges that also impact harbor operations
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 6-day forecast
Outputs: Flooding, Inundation, Sea Level
Products:
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Nawiliwili, Kaua’i
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Honolulu, O’ahu
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Moku o Lo’e, O’ahu
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Kahului, Maui
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Kawaihae Harbor, Hawai’i Island
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Hilo, Hawai’i Island
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Apra Harbor, Guam
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Malakal, Palau
- Six-Day High Sea Level Forecast: Pago Pago, American Samoa
Active
PacIOOS’ Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model provides a 6-day, hourly forecast for the region surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands at approximately 6-km (3.7-mile) resolution including forecasts of wind, air temperature at 2 meters (6.6 ft) above the sea surface, and rainfall rate (the amount of rain that would fall over the course of an hour). Rainfall can be categorized as light (< 0.1 in/h) (< 2.5 mm/h), medium (0.1-0.3 in/h) (2.5-7.6 mm/h), heavy (> 0.3 in/h) (> 7.6 mm/h), or violent (> 2.0 in/h) (> 50 mm/h). The forecast is run daily and gets updated on this website between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM Hawaiʻi Standard Time (UTC-10) every afternoon.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 6-day forecast
Model Component: WRF
Outputs: Air Temperature, Precipitation, Rain, Wind
Products:
Active
PacIOOS’ Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model provides a 6-day, hourly forecast for the region surrounding the islands of Maui Nui (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe) and Oʻahu in the State of Hawaiʻi at approximately 2-km (1.2-mile) resolution including forecasts of wind, air temperature at 2 meters (6.6 ft) above the sea surface, and rainfall rate (the amount of rain that would fall over the course of an hour). Rainfall can be categorized as light (< 0.1 in/h) (< 2.5 mm/h), medium (0.1-0.3 in/h) (2.5-7.6 mm/h), heavy (> 0.3 in/h) (> 7.6 mm/h), or violent (> 2.0 in/h) (> 50 mm/h). The forecast is run daily and gets updated on this website between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM Hawaiʻi Standard Time (UTC-10) every afternoon.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 6-day forecast
Model Component: WRF
Outputs: Air Temperature, Precipitation, Rain, Wind
Products:
PacIOOS’ Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model provides 6-day, hourly forecasts for the region surrounding the Western North Pacific, including Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), at approximately 12-km (7.5-mile) resolution, including forecasts of wind, air temperature at 2 meters (6.6 ft) above the sea surface, and rainfall rate (the amount of rain that would fall over the course of an hour). Rainfall can be categorized as light (< 0.1 in/h) (< 2.5 mm/h), medium (0.1-0.3 in/h) (2.5-7.6 mm/h), heavy (> 0.3 in/h) (> 7.6 mm/h), or violent (> 2.0 in/h) (> 50 mm/h). The forecast is run daily and gets updated on this website between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM Chamorro Standard Time (UTC+10) every morning.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 6-day forecast
Model Component: WRF
Outputs: Air Temperature, Precipitation, Rain, Wind
Products:
Short term forecasts, 7-day coastal forecasts, and long term outlooks for sargassum concentration and abundance in the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands region.
Region: Caribbean
Time Range: 48-hour forecast; 7-day forecast
Outputs: Sargassum Abundance Intensity, Sargassum Concentration