The Northern Gulf of Mexico Littoral Initiative (NGLI) was established in 1999 to provide reliable, timely meteorological and oceanographic mesoscale models for the Mississippi Bight/Sound and adjoining bays through development and operation of a sustainable comprehensive nowcasting/forecasting system. This forecasting system includes operational 9-km meteorology forecasts using COAMPS, a 3D ocean circulation model with sediment transport from the coastal estuary (ECOMSED), and the wave model SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore). These modeling systems will be evaluated using all regional in-situ meteorological, oceanographic, and river data. In addition, there have been seven cruises out into the Mississippi Sound and open Gulf to collect data, including core samples, ADCP measurements, CTD data, AC-9 data acquisition (all cruises), mooring work, and gravity surveys. Archived observations and model data will be distributed to a public access data server (MEL), and real-time observations and model forecasts will be displayed on the NGLI web site at: http://www.navo.navy.mil/NGLI/main_frame.html

The AMS presentation will focus on the implementation of COAMPS in NGLI, including future data assimilation efforts, and validation efforts of the wind field along the coastal interface. However, all facets of NGLI will be briefly discussed.