The CARICOOS Coastal Circulation Model is a beta (experimental) version high-resolution implementation of the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (Chen et al., 2003). The model provides forecasts for 96 hours and is run once per day. The model is forced by tides, atmospheric forcing (CARICOOS WRF) and large-scale currents (obtained from the HYCOM model) in order to provide predictions of coastal circulation in the nearshore waters of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
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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Active
Region: Caribbean
Time Range: 96-hour forecast
Model Component: FVCOM
Outputs: Current Direction, Current Speed, Salinity, Sea Surface Temperature
Active
PacIOOS’ Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model provides 6-day, hourly forecasts for the region surrounding the islands of Samoa at approximately 3-km (1.9-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). This forecast covers the region surrounding the islands of Samoa at approximately 3-km (1.9-mile) resolution. The forecast is run daily and gets updated on this website between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM Samoa Standard Time (UTC-11) every afternoon.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 6-day forecast
Model Component: WRF
Outputs: Air Temperature, Precipitation, Rain, Wind
Products:
Active
CARICOOS runs 1km and 2km resolution Weather Research Forecast (WRF) Operational Wind Models based on the WRF Nonhydrostatic Mesoscale Model (NMM) core. WRF-NMM was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The model is run daily for cycle 00Z to produce a forecast length of 48 hours. Boundary and initial conditions are provided by the Global Forecast System (GFS) and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT).
Region: Caribbean
Time Range: 1km: 36-hour forecast 2km: 5-day forecast
Model Component: WRF
Outputs: Wind Direction, Wind Speed
The NOAA Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System (GLCFS) is an experimental set of hydrodynamic computer models that predict lake circulation and other physical processes (e.g.thermal structure, waves, ice dynamics) of the lakes and connecting channels in a real-time nowcast and forecast mode.
Region: Great Lakes
Time Range: 5-day forecast
Model Component: FVCOM
Outputs: Air Temperature, Ice Concentration, Ice Thickness, Surface Currents, Temperature, Velocity, Water Level, Wind
Provides physical properties such as surface currents, temperatures, and water level hindcasts, nowcasts, and forecasts for the Lake Huron – Lake Erie Corridor.
Region: Great Lakes
Time Range: 48-hour hindcast, nowcast, 72-hour forecast
Model Component: FVCOM
Outputs: Surface Currents, Temperature, Water Level
PacIOOS’ Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model is a 5-day, hourly forecast for the region surrounding Hawaiʻi Island (a.k.a. Big Island) in the State of Hawaiʻi at approximately 500-m resolution. This high-resolution wave model helps capture shallow water effects and nearshore coastal dynamics such as refracting, shoaling, and shadowing.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 5-day forecast
Model Component: SWAN
Outputs: Wave Direction, Wave Height, Wave Period
Products:
PacIOOS’ Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model is a 5-day, hourly forecast for the region surrounding the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Aguijan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) at approximately 365-m resolution. This high-resolution wave model helps capture shallow water effects and nearshore coastal dynamics such as refracting, shoaling, and shadowing.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 5-day forecast
Model Component: SWAN
Outputs: Wave Direction, Wave Height, Wave Period
Products:
PacIOOS’ WaveWatch III (WW3) model is a 5-day, hourly forecast for the region surrounding the Mariana Islands, including Guam and the main islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), at approximately 0.05-degree (~5-km) resolution. This regional wave model helps capture island effects such as island shadowing, refraction, and accurate modeling of local wind waves.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 5-day forecast
Model Component: WW3
Outputs: Wave Direction, Wave Height, Wave Period
Products:
PacIOOS’ WaveWatch III (WW3) model is a 5-day, hourly forecast for the region surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), including part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, at approximately 0.05-degree (~5-km) resolution. This regional wave model helps capture island effects such as island shadowing, refraction, and accurate modeling of local wind waves.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 5-day forecast
Model Component: WW3
Outputs: Wave Direction, Wave Height, Wave Period
Products:
PacIOOS’ Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model is a 5-day, hourly forecast for the region surrounding the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe in the State of Hawaiʻi at approximately 500-m resolution. This high-resolution wave model helps capture shallow water effects and nearshore coastal dynamics such as refracting, shoaling, and shadowing.
Region: Pacific
Time Range: 5-day forecast
Model Component: SWAN
Outputs: Wave Direction, Wave Height, Wave Period
Products: