About
The Structured and Unstructured grid Relocatable ocean platform for Forecasting (SURF) is an on-demand ocean modeling platform designed to set up, execute, and analyze high-resolution nested ocean simulations in any region of the global ocean. SURF facilitates the downscaling of large-scale ocean fields to regional and coastal areas, providing the high-spatial resolution needed to capture fine-scale oceanographic processes that are typically unresolved by coarser models.
With its flexible and relocatable architecture, SURF allows for rapid deployment and provides high-resolution forecasts essential for Decision Support Systems (DSS), including oil spill monitoring, search and rescue operations, maritime navigation, fisheries management, and coastal tourism.
Key Features & Capabilities
Advanced Nesting
Includes approaches based both on multiple nesting with NEMO reaching very high-resolutions (down to hundreds of meters) and cross-scale seamless modeling with SHYFEM, using a single grid to represent different scales, from the basin to the shelf-coastal to the near-shore scale, up to the estuaries.
Comprehensive Tooling
Provides a comprehensive suite of tools for preprocessing, (mesh generation, data download/remapping) and post-processing (visualization, analysis), streamlining your entire modeling pipeline.
Portable Distribution
Distributed as both a Docker and VirtualBox image, pre-configured with all necessary libraries and software for immediate use.
Intuitive Web GUI
A user-friendly web-based Graphical User Interface is under development to simplify model setup, execution monitoring, visualization, and results analysis.
SURF Workflow
The SURF platform follows a structured workflow that automates key steps in configuring and running SURF-NEMO. The schematic diagrams below illustrate each stage of this process.
- 1
Model Configuration
Specify input parameters for preprocessing (data sources, interpolation methods, etc.), simulation (time steps, output frequency, parameterizations, etc.), and post-processing settings (visualization and data analysis).
- 2
Preprocessing
The system automatically downloads and prepares input data for the Ocean Model:
- Grid Generation: Creates the Meshmask for the nested model.
- Input Data Regridding: Remaps initial/boundary conditions and atmospheric/tidal forcing on the nested grid.
- 3
Simulation
The selected ocean model executes, producing high-resolution fields in your chosen region.
- 4
Post-Processing
Visualize outputs, compare parent/child fields, validate results, and convert datasets for further analysis.
