TAMU TX-LA Salinity

The Texas-Louisiana regional ocean forecast system (TXLA ROFS) has been developed by a research group at Texas A&M University. The aim is to provide near-real time ocean forecast data to various stakeholders for different purposes, but primarily for oil spill responses. The forecast and nowcast are based on Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) and run daily on Texas A&M high performance computing clusters (HPCs). TXLA ROFS is forced by NOAA's GFS and Global HYCOM provides open boundary conditions. It includes streamflow of 9 rivers across Texas and Louisiana including the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers to accurately represent the plume from the rivers. Tides are not included. TXLA ROFS generates 1-day nowcast and 4-day forecast outputs at 1-hour intervals. The primary output variables include ssh, u, v, temperature, and salinity. The product is funded by the Texas General Land Office.