Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs)

The SOCCOM OSSE program uses the HYCOM model (at 1/12°) and CM2.6 (at 1/10°):

1. to assist in interpretation of data and development of new analysis techniques
2. to provide guidance on the optimal design of an observing system
3. We sample model-simulated fields in the same way the real observational array samples the real ocean, and reconstruct gridded model fields
4. We use the reconstruction errors (RErr) – the difference between the reconstructed and actual model fields – as a quantitative metric for the reconstruction skill

RErr (rms of monthly values) of upper ocean heat content (UOHC). Values are non-dimensional – scaled by the vertical temperature contrast, for years 2007-2014.

Trajectory Ensembles

• 40 ARGO floats are deployed along the 40 stations of the Polarstern cruise
• The start date is varied, with a maximum deviation of 32 days
• The ensemble is compared with the 12 deployed floats as of March 2015