Assimilation of High-Frequency Radar Data in the East Chukchi Sea

Abstract

The maximum-likelihood ensemble filter (MLEF) is an eficient technique of data assimilation related to both 3D-variational (3Dvar) and Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) methods. We demonstrate the utility of MLEF by assimilating high-frequency radar (HFR) data into a realistic model of the east Chukchi Sea. A set of three radar stations in Wainwright, Point Lay, and Barrow provide two-dimensional resolution of the sea-surface velocity. We use MLEF to incorporate this HFR data into a numerical model constructed using the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) for the ice-free months of 2012. The resulting analysis can be used as a benchmark for future operational forecasting, allowing for better real-time monitoring and decision-making as this biologically rich region is influenced by industry and commerce.