Cross-validation of ocean observations and circulation models for the Florida Curent

The Florida Current, as part of the Gulf Stream System is rich in seasonal,mesoscale, and tidal variability. A variety of observing systems exist ranging from operational tide gauges for coastal sea level to a NOAA submarine cable for volume transport, to research coastal HF radars for surface currents and other systems. The Navy is running a global operational ocean circulation model,called Global-NCOM; the University of Miami is running a quasi-operational ocean prediction system for the Florida Current regime, called EFSIS. The analysis of the observations and the model outputs allow obtaining new insights into the dynamics of the Florida Current.