Progress in the Canadian Operational Network of Coupled Environmental PredicTion Systems (CONCEPTS)

Environment Canada (EC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and the Department of National Defence (DND) require environmental information products and capabilities that can be provided by an operational global coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice data assimilation and prediction system. In-situ data from Argo floats together with other observations permit effective ocean data assimilation. The Canadian Operational Network of Coupled Environmental PredicTion Systems (CONCEPTS) including Mercator-Océan participation (France), is providing a framework for research and operations on coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice prediction. CONCEPTS includes Core Projects on: 1) development of improved data assimilation and prediction systems; 2) their validation on both global and basin scales; 3) demonstration of regional ocean prediction capabilities and applications and 4) sea ice and Arctic modelling and data assimilation. There are three major inter-related activities: 1) an operational activity based on coupling the Canadian atmospheric GEM model with the Mercator system; 2) a research and development (R&D) activity consisting of government and academic research networks to collaboratively develop and maintain a joint Franco-Canadian system in the longer term; and 3) a products activity to identify, develop and disseminate relevant products and outputs. Operational activity is being built upon existing EC infrastructure with R&D activity, particularly on improved ocean data assimilation capabilities, enhanced through a complementary Global Ocean-Atmosphere Prediction and Predictability (GOAPP) research network funded by the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences since October 2006. This talk will provide an overview of CONCEPTS and GOAPP, and will summarize results to date and progress on new and future operational systems.