Data collected from the NATO Reseach Vessel Alliance during the period 7-11 May 2002 has been combined with climatological (Mediterranean Ocean Data Base - MODB) data to provide an estimate for the current synoptic conditions. This estimate of synoptic conditions provides the initialization conditions for the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS) model simulations.

The ASCOT-02 simulation and operational system consists of a set of two-way nested domains. Pictured here are the Channel and Elba domains. The specifics of the individual domains are given in other documents. Results presented below are for the Channel domain only.

The model simulation uses data from May 7-9, 2002 in the nowcast (initial conditions). Data from May 10 and 11 are assimilated into the ongoing simulation.