A Frequency-Dependent Assimilation Algorithm: Ensemble Optimal Smoothing

Abstract

Motivated by the need for a simple and effective assimilation scheme that could be used in a relocatable ocean model, a new assimilation algorithm called ensemble optimal smoothing (EnOS) was developed. This scheme was a straightforward extension of the ensemble optimal interpolation (EnOI) by involving time correlation information in the Kalman gain. The main advantage of this scheme was the ability to estimate the present state from the time history of observation. We first examined the new scheme in an ideal ocean model using simulated observations. Further applying these two assimilation schemes to the Chinese offshore and adjacent waters, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the EnOS scheme was reduced by 6.4% relative to EnOI. The results showed that the EnOS was more efficient and effective in eliminating model errors when compared to the EnOI scheme.