Adaptive sampling aims to predict the types and locations of additional observations that are most useful for specific objectives, under the constraints of the available observing network. Path planning refers to the computation of the routes of the assets that are part of the adaptive component of the observing network. In this paper, we present two path planning methods based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). The methods are illustrated with some examples based on environmental ocean fields and compared to highlight their strengths and weaknesses. The stronger method is further demonstrated on a number of examples covering multi-vehicle and multi-day path planning, based on simulations for the Monterey Bay region. The framework presented is powerful and flexible enough to accommodate changes in scenarios. To demonstrate this feature, acoustical path planning is also discussed.

THIS REPORT summarizes goals, activities, and recommendations of a workshop on data assimilation held in Williamsburg, Virginia on September 9-11, 2003, and sponsored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) and National Science Foundation (NSF). The overall goal of the workshop was to synthesize research directions for ocean data assimilation (DA) and outline efforts required during the next 10 years and beyond to evolve DA into an integral and sustained component of global, regional, and coastal ocean science and observing and prediction systems. The workshop built on the success of recent and existing DA activities such as those sponsored by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) and NSF-Information Technology Research (NSF-ITR). DA is a quantitative approach to optimally combine models and observations. The combination is usually consistent with model and data uncertainties, which need to be represented. Ocean DA can extract maximum knowledge from the sparse and expensive measurements of the highly variable ocean dynamics. The ultimate goal is to better understand and predict these dynamics on multiple spatial and temporal scales, including interactions with other components of the climate system. There are many applications that involve DA or build on its results, including: coastal, regional, seasonal, and inter-annual ocean and climate dynamics; carbon and biogeochemical cycles; ecosystem dynamics; ocean engineering; observing-system design; coastal management; fisheries; pollution control; naval operations; and defense and security. These applications have different requirements that lead to variations in the DA schemes utilized. For literature on DA, we refer to Ghil and Malanotte-Rizzoli (1991), the National Research Council (1991), Bennett (1992), Malanotte- Rizzoli (1996), Wunsch (1996), Robinson et al. (1998), Robinson and Lermusiaux (2002), and Kalnay (2003). We also refer to the U.S. Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) workshop on Global Ocean Data Assimilation: Prospects and Strategies (Rienecker et al., 2001); U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Office of Global Programs (NOAA-OGP) workshop on Coupled Data Assimilation (Rienecker, 2003); and, NOAA-NASA-NSF workshop on Ongoing Analysis of the Climate System (Arkin et al., 2003).

Scientific computations for the quantification, estimation and prediction of uncertainties for ocean dynamics are developed and exemplified. Primary characteristics of ocean data, models and uncertainties are reviewed and quantitative data assimilation concepts defined. Challenges involved in realistic data-driven simulations of uncertainties for four-dimensional interdisciplinary ocean processes are emphasized. Equations governing uncertainties in the Bayesian probabilistic sense are summarized. Stochastic forcing formulations are introduced and a new stochastic-deterministic ocean model is presented. The computational methodology and numerical system, Error Subspace Statistical Estimation, that is used for the efficient estimation and prediction of oceanic uncertainties based on these equations is then outlined. Capabilities of the ESSE system are illustrated in three data-assimilative applications: estimation of uncertainties for physical-biogeochemical fields, transfers of ocean physics uncertainties to acoustics, and real-time stochastic ensemble predictions with assimilation of a wide range of data types. Relationships with other modern uncertainty quantification schemes and promising research directions are discussed.

A multitude of physical and biological processes occur in the ocean over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. Many of these processes are nonlinear and highly variable, and involve interactions across several scales and oceanic disciplines. For example, sound propagation is influenced by physical and biological properties of the water column and by the seabed. From observations and conservation laws, ocean scientists formulate models that aim to explain and predict dynamics of the sea. This formulation is intricate because it is challenging to observe the ocean on a sustained basis and to transform basic laws into generic but usable models. There are imperfections in both data and model estimates. It is important to quantify such uncertainties to understand limitations and identify the research needed to increase accuracies, which will lead to fundamental progress. There are several sources of uncertainties in ocean modeling. First, to simplify models (thereby reducing computational expenses), explicit calculations are only performed on a restricted range of spatial and temporal scales (referred to as the “scale window”) (Nihoul and Djenidi, 1998). Influences of scales outside this window are neglected, parameterized, or provided at boundaries. Such simplifications and scale reductions are a source of error. Second, uncertainties also arise from the limited knowledge of processes within the scale window, which leads to approximate representations or parameterizations. Third, ocean data are required for model initialization and parameter values; however, raw measurements are limited in coverage and accuracy, and they are often processed with the aim of extracting information within a predetermined scale window. Initial conditions and model parameters are thus inexact. Fourth, models of interactions between the ocean and Earth system are approximate and ocean boundary conditions are inexact. For example, effects of uncertain atmospheric fluxes can dominate oceanic uncertainty. Fifth, miscalculations occur due to numerical implementations. All of the above leads to differences between the actual values (unknown) and the measured or modeled values of physical, biological, and geo-acoustical fields and properties.

For modern interdisciplinary ocean prediction and assimilation systems, a significant part of the complexity facing users is the very large number of possible setups and parameters, both at build-time and at run-time, especially for the core physical, biological and acoustical ocean predictive models. The configuration of these modeling systems for both local as well as remote execution can be a daunting and error-prone task in the absence of a graphical user interface (GUI) and of software that automatically controls the adequacy and compatibility of options and parameters. We propose to encapsulate the configurability and requirements of ocean prediction codes using an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) based description, thereby creating new computer-readable manuals for the executable binaries. These manuals allow us to generate a GUI, check for correctness of compilation and input parameters, and finally drive execution of the prediction system components, all in an automated and transparent manner. This web-enabled configuration and automated control software has been developed (it is currently in “beta” form) and exemplified for components of the interdisciplinary Harvard ocean prediction system (HOPS) and for the uncertainty prediction components of the error subspace statistical estimation (ESSE) system. Importantly, the approach is general and applies to other existing ocean modeling applications and to other “legacy” codes.