Quantitative comparison of ocean observations and model output is very much needed. As observations improve, covering more of the spatial and temporal scales, and as models incorporate more realistic physics and fluxes, and attain higher spatial resolution (even tackling such high frequency as tides), such comparison is becoming increasingly feasible.  The INSTANT observations offer an ideal opportunity to develop methods of comparison for a key part of the ocean/climate system, the Indonesian Throughflow [ITF].

Our 28-30 May 2008 ITF workshop generated lots of interaction between the observationalists and the modelers.

At the meeting we discussed the metrics that can be used to compare observations to models as well as for model intercomparison. Janet Sprintall and Susan Wijffels have now developed the notes from the workshop’s metric discussion to produce an excellent presentation of the ITF metrics, complete with definitions.

Download the metrics document here.

Metrics data can be submitted via anonymous login:

ftp ftp.marine.csiro.au

cd incoming/INSTANT_metrics

Data can be uploaded into this folder. Please email Rebecca Cowley when data has been uploaded with details of file names.