The East Coast Ocean Forecast System (ECOFS)

ECOFS is the result of a cooperative effort between:

It is supported by the Coastal Ocean Program (NOAA/COP). A list of people who are involved in the research and operation can be found HERE

The long-term objective of the project is to develop a system capable of producing useful nowcast and forecast information for the coastal region. A quasi-operational system based on the coupling of the POM ocean model to the Eta atmospheric model has been in operation since August 1993, producing daily 24h forecasts. Output includes:

3-D fields: temperature, salinity and velocities (archived daily)
2-D fields: surface elevation (archived daily)
Sea level at 20 tide gauge stations (archived hourly)

FEEDBACK: Since this is an experimental system, we would like to know who are the potential users. If you enter this page and find the information useful, or would like to see on-line other data please let us know and send an e-mail to Tal Ezer (ezer@splash.princeton.edu).

NOTE: Recent improvements (summer 1995) include the use of 29 km instead of 80 km atmospheric model, higher vertical resolution in the ocean model, more accurate heat flux calculations, additional effects of atmospheric pressure, river runoff and precipitation. Tidal forcing is added in the summer of 1996, but need further improvement. Note that this page from Princeton University will be soon replaced by an official NCEP page that will provide operational products to the public.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SYSTEM

IMAGES

Operational Products

Latest MCSST from satellite images
Previous images (3-5 days apart)
MCSST-1
MCSST-2
MCSST-3

Latest model SST

Latest Model Surface Elevation and Surface Velocity

Historical Data and Case Studies

The Blizzard of 1996

Sea Level Comparisons

Model and Observed Subtidal (30h lowpass filtered) Sea Level at 4 Stations (Eastport, ME; Sandy Hook, NJ; Bay Bridge, VA; Ft. Pulaski, GA).
SEPTEMBER 1994
OCTOBER 1994
NOVEMBER 1994

MCSST movie (1-28-95 to present)