7/27/17: Yi Chao

Please join us for a Great Lakes Seminar Series presentation:
Time: 10:30-11:30 am EDT 
Location: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Lake Superior Hall
Presenter: Dr. Yi Chao, CEO, Seatrec, Inc. & Scientist, Remote Sensing Solutions, Inc.
Title: Ocean Observing and Modeling Technology to Enable Operational Forecasting

Event Flyer 

Webinar Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjXXuVgegAo&list=PL9U_EaC5J7PxAV2x50vllTghRt-2c7PcR&index=13

Abstract: Weather forecast information is now available anywhere anytime thanks to a comprehensive atmospheric observing system and mature modeling technology. Operational ocean forecasting however is still in its infancy. This talk will describe two technology breakthroughs to enable operational ocean forecasting. The first breakthrough is to power underwater systems by ocean temperature differences. Currently, all autonomous underwater systems are powered by primary battery and therefore have limited lifetime. Replacing or recharging battery at sea is a very expensive operation and certainly not scalable on the global scale. Harvesting energy from vertical temperature differences in the ocean is shown to be a viable solution to power underwater systems (e.g., floats, gliders, AUVs) indefinitely.
The second technology breakthrough is the data assimilation method to combine observational data with a numerical model simulation to enable forecasting. For our California coastal ocean forecast system, the three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation method was selected because of its computational efficiency as compared to other advanced methods such as 4DVAR or Kalman Filter. The California coastal ocean forecast system is run in near real-time to produce a nowcast every six hours and a 72-hour forecast every day. The performance of this forecast system will be presented. Our experience working with users (e.g., search and rescue operation, oil spill response) will be described. A decade-long hindcast will be also presented to describe the seasonal-to-interannual variability including the most recent warming conditions during 2014-2016 associated with El Niño and Pacific Decadal Oscillation.

Bio: With a Ph.D. from Princeton University, Dr. Chao worked at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of Caltech for more than 20 years. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers in the areas of ocean modeling and satellite remote sensing. He has been granted two patents in harvesting energy from the ocean temperature differences. In 2012, Dr. Chao left NASA JPL/Caltech to start a new career in private industry with a goal to transfer government-funded research and development to commercial applications.

Important Visitor Information
All in-person seminar attendees are required to receive a visitor badge from the front desk at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory facility. Seminar attendees need to present a valid U.S. photo ID or green card. If you are a Foreign National, advance notification of at least 48 hours is needed so that security guidelines are followed. You will need to present your passport (a copy will NOT work). For questions regarding building access, or assistance in obtaining Foreign National clearance, please call 734-741-2393. Email contact: [email protected]
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Questions? Contact Mary Ogdahl: [email protected]