A SOPHISTICATED system providing a ‘weather forecast’ of Australia’s coastal oceans is providing invaluable data for industries affected by ocean conditions, as well as climate and oceanographic scientists.

Immensely powerful computer networks synthesise and process vast volumes of data for the BLUElink ocean forecasting program, with a 3D ocean circulation model displaying a 200 kilometre grid around the waters of Australia.

The SX-6 Super-Computer at the High Performance Computing and Communications Centre in Melbourne uses data from sensors on ships, floats, buoys, manned stations and satellites to generate BLUElink forecasts of ocean conditions up to 7 days in advance.

BLUElink is co-ordinated by CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

“Using BLUElink you can go on the internet to obtain an underwater ‘weather’ forecast of salinity, temperature, currents and sea level anomaly patterns,” says Dr Nick D’Adamo, from the Perth office of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

“Ocean conditions are a critical factor in the earth’s climate system and we need to understand them to use our vast coastal areas in a safe, effective and sustainable way.”

Dr D’Adamo says that by using the BLUElink temperature and salinity charts the density and buoyancy of sea water can be determined.

“Changes in the density of sea water cause warmer water at the surface to float towards the poles and the deeper cold water from the poles to float towards the Equator.

“This is known as the ‘Global Conveyor Belt’ and is an important factor in global climate.”

Ocean conditions directly affect fisheries, coastal construction, defence applications, maritime safety and maritime pollution response.

BLUElink 3D ocean models were used to find the shipwreck HMAS Sydney and to determine ocean currents affecting the spread of oil from the recent oil spill in our northwest.

A sea level anomaly known as an ‘eddy’ can adversely affect the accuracy of sonar detection used by the RAN while BLUElink makes the detection of any enemy submarine possible even if they try using an eddy to ‘hide’ from sonar detection.

BLUElink will aid fisheries management by providing a better understanding of how changes in currents, temperature and salinity affect fisheries resources while predictions of changes in ocean conditions will influence future design and cost of marinas, oceanic and coastal fish farms, floating oil platforms and oil exploration.

Dr D’Adamo says further improvements in BLUElink this year will include the development of near-shore wave forecasting and a coupled ocean-atmosphere tropical cyclone prediction system.

“Researchers having access to the BLUElink-enhanced observed and modelled data will add value to any applications for the community and industry in the future.”

More information at www.bom.gov.au/bluelink