The IOOS / SURA Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed - Improving Predictions of Extreme Events and Chronic Environmental Conditions Affecting the U.S

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program has identified modeling and analysis as one of three functional subsystems of a fully coordinated enterprise. In response, SURA (Southeastern Universities Research Association) initiated a Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) in 2010 to conduct targeted research and development to accelerate the transition of scientific and technical advances from the coastal ocean modeling research community to improved operational ocean products and services. In 2013, the COMT became an official part of the IOOS program and is currently supporting four modeling projects covering: (i) estuarine hypoxia modeling in the Chesapeake Bay, (ii) physics and ecosystems modeling along the US West Coast, (iii) surge and wave inundation modeling in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands, and (iv) hypoxia modeling in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and a fifth project to advance integrative community cyberinfrastructure and an archive of testbed datasets and results.

This talk will introduce the COMT, describe its intended role in the abyss between research and operations and summarize progress in each of the contributing projects.