Data collected from the NATO Research Vessel Alliance during the period 28 May - 9 June 2003 have been utilized to provide both an estimate of the current synoptic conditions. The estimate of synoptic conditions provides the initialization conditions for the Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS) model simulations. Data for assimilation has been collected from 12-17 June 2003.

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

Atmospheric forcing for the PE model is derived from the US Navy operational NOGAPS model, COAMPS and ALADIN. Winds in this region have been generally light to moderate with a consistent west to east wind over the northern half of the domain. This wind has been driving an inflow into the modeling domain at the northern tip of Corsica. During the period 15-16 June winds in the lee of Corsica have been extremely light and variable. The ALADIN winds show a strong wind event (still west to east) just north of the tip of Corsica on 16-17 June. In the southern half of the domain, the winds have primarily been north to south and often stronger than the west-east winds in the northern half of the domain, especially to the south and east of Elba, along the western Italian coast. This is tending to increase the currents south of Elba and driving them to a more north-south orientation.