A Prediction System for the Fates of Pollutants &Amp; Drifting Objects in the Seas around Taiwan (Ii)

In a previous NSC project, we successfully developed a data-assimilated Advanced Taiwan Ocean Prediction (ATOP; http://mpipom.ihs.ncu.edu.tw/index.php) system at the National Central University, Taiwan. Each day, the ATOP system provides once-a-day, 7-day ensemble forecast of the three-dimensional ocean currents, salinity and temperatures, as well as of wind-generated waves, covering the seas around Taiwan: the Taiwan Strait, Kuroshio and all the China Seas. This proposal requests funding to put the ATOP system into practical usage: to track and predict the fates and transports of water-borne pollutants and other drifting objects in the seas around Taiwan. Usages of the system include environmental impact assessment in the event of a pollutant and/or oil spill, aiding in search and rescue operations, and locating potential marine resources for more effective managements of the nation’s fishery industry and marine ecosystem, etc. Sub-models for tracking of both Lagrangian particles and (Eulerian) tracers will be incorporated into the ATOP system to include also the effects of wind waves. The prediction skills of the system will be fully tested by comparison with observations including satellite and in situ data. A dedicated website will be developed to disseminate the forecast information andother relevant data in real time.