Evaluating a new NEMO-based Persian/Arabian Gulf tidal operational model

A 3-D baroclinic pre-operational model, including tides of the Persian/Arabian Gulf, has been developed at the Met Office using the NEMO framework. The non-assimilative model is believed to represent a significant improvement over the existing POLCOMS based system, benefiting from: extended domain; improved resolution; more accurate representation of coasts and bathymetry; improved representation of tides; and improved representation of salinity. As expected, with sea surface temperature (SST) data assimilation, the accuracy of SST is significantly improved. However, data assimilation also appears to help reduce thermal biases throughout the water column, within the limited accuracy of a climatology comparison. Operational implementation occurred in late 2012.