The application of state-of-the-art oceanographic and meteorological forecasting products to the Hawaiian Islands

Since the Hawaiian Islands are important militarily as well as economically, it is essential that accurate and timely analysis and forecasts be provided that can reproduce and resolve major oceanographic and meteorological variations around Hawaii. The authors discuss aspects of ocean-atmosphere modeling being conducted by the Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center/Joint Typhoon Warning Center at Pearl Harbor and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). These include the use of the Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System (MODAS) to provide a means for estimating present temperature (T) and salinity (S) conditions in the oceans utilizing satellite data and an historical database relating T and S at a particular time and location. They also discuss the application of the atmospheric component of the Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Prediction System COAMPS, a high-resolution meteorological model with an advanced capability to forecast weather features in the 24-36 hour period. Finally, they mention the application of high-resolution ocean models to provide four-dimensional information on currents, T-S structure, and sound speed for operationally important regions around Hawaii.