NOAA: Evolving FVCOM: Toward More Accurate and Efficient Coastal Forecasting

Presenter(s): Changsheng Chen (U. Mass Dartmouth)

Sponsor(s): NOAACoastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

SeminarContact: Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Remote access: Connect with Google Meet meet.google.com/kti-ktaw-nesthis link opens in a new window,

Abstract: This presentation provides an overview of recent advances in the development of the Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM), with a focus on improving both numericalefficiency and predictive skill for coastal ocean forecasting. Key updates include theimplementation of a hybrid Operator-Integration-Factor Splitting (OIFS) algorithm, whichenables larger time steps and reduces the traditional CFL constraints while maintainingnumerical stability and accuracy. Significant progress has also been made in multi-physicscoupling. These developments include (1) two-way FVCOM”WW3/UnSWAN wave”currentcoupling through the FISOC framework, (2) FVCOM”NWM linkage enhanced with Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to improve streamflow and hydrologic inputs, and (3) high-resolution, infrastructure-resolving WRF”FVCOM coupling systems that integrate bothempirical and CFD-based wind-wake parameterizations for offshore wind farm applications. Inaddition, a 3DVAR data assimilation module has been incorporated under the Parallel DataAssimilation Framework (PDAF), providing an efficient pathway for integrating multi-platformobservational datasets into real-time forecasting. To demonstrate the capability of these new developments, we present an application of theinfrastructure-resolving WRF”FVCOM system to offshore wind farms over the New Englandshelf. The results include detailed comparisons with observations inside and outside the windfarm arrays, highlighting improvements in simulating atmospheric wakes, surface winds, oceancurrents, and wave fields. Together, these advances mark an important step toward a next-generation FVCOM system capable of supporting high-resolution, multi-scale forecasting forcoastal oceans, estuaries, and marine infrastructure environments.