Design of an observing system simulation experiment for the operational model of the southwestern coast of Iberia (SOMA)

Mendonça, Fernando; Martins, Flávio; Bertino, Laurent

Publication

Design of an observing system simulation experiment for the operational model of the southwestern coast of Iberia (SOMA)

2025-09-21Journal article

dc.contributor.author	Mendonça, Fernando
dc.contributor.author	Martins, Flávio
dc.contributor.author	Bertino, Laurent
dc.date.accessioned	2025-10-22T09:25:38Z
dc.date.available	2025-10-22T09:25:38Z
dc.date.issued	2025-09-21
dc.description.abstract	Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) provide a framework in which to evaluate the impact of prospective ocean-observation networks on model forecasting performance prior to their actual deployment. This study presents the design and validation of an OSSE tailored for the operational coastal model of southern Portugal, SOMA. The system adopts the fraternal twins approach and a univariate data-assimilation scheme based on Ensemble Optimal Interpolation to update the model’s 3D temperature structure with SST. The methodology provides a flexible framework that preserves the statistical structure of real observation errors while remaining independent of SOMA. This allows straightforward transfer to other applications, thereby broadening its applicability and making it useful as a starting point in the design of observation networks beyond that presented in this case study. The OSSE experiments were compared against corresponding Observing System Experiments (OSEs) using real satellite SST products. Results show that the designed OSSE is internally consistent, sensitive to observation density, and capable of reproducing realistic correction patterns that closely match those obtained in the OSEs. These findings provide strong evidence that the SOMA OSSE system is a reliable tool for assessing the potential impact of future surface-observation strategies.	eng
dc.description.sponsorship	UID/00350/2020;
dc.identifier.doi	10.3390/jmse13091830
dc.identifier.issn	2077-1312
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/27844
dc.language.iso	eng
dc.peerreviewed	yes
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation	Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject	Coastal model
dc.subject	Ocean observation
dc.subject	Data assimilation
dc.subject	Ensemble optimal interpolation
dc.subject	Observation experiments
dc.title	Design of an observing system simulation experiment for the operational model of the southwestern coast of Iberia (SOMA)	eng
dc.type	journal article
dspace.entity.type	Publication
oaire.awardTitle	Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network
oaire.awardURI	info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/LA%2FP%2F0069%2F2020/PT
oaire.citation.issue	9
oaire.citation.startPage	1830
oaire.citation.title	Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
oaire.citation.volume	13
oaire.fundingStream	6817 - DCRRNI ID
oaire.version	http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
person.familyName	Mendonça
person.familyName	Martins
person.givenName	Fernando
person.givenName	Flávio
person.identifier	2545197
person.identifier.ciencia-id	C01C-E56C-50BB
person.identifier.ciencia-id	6711-E990-FFD9
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0003-4523-5746
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0002-9863-6255
person.identifier.rid	U-2673-2018
person.identifier.scopus-author-id	57964080300
person.identifier.scopus-author-id	7006504350
project.funder.identifier	http://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.name	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
relation.isAuthorOfPublication	1cd82d60-0486-40cc-9c1b-5a2cf418e363
relation.isAuthorOfPublication	1a3bc5b3-6032-43b3-880e-1a551ba84d02
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery	1cd82d60-0486-40cc-9c1b-5a2cf418e363
relation.isProjectOfPublication	5af011f9-3888-449a-a18c-d08b59e87091
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery	5af011f9-3888-449a-a18c-d08b59e87091