INDUSTRY John McHenry, chief scientist, Baron Weather, and Joe Zambon PhD, VP of research and development, Fathom Science Atmosphere-ocean modeling first Baron Weather discusses its work in Indonesia on the development, deployment and validation of a three-way-coupled atmosphere-ocean-wave model – the largest high-resolution regional implementation currently available FIGURE 1: The InaCAWO 700mb Relative Humidity (%) InaCAWO Max: 100.1 /Min 0.0 T he atmosphere-ocean interface is one of the most complex and challenging environments to accurately predict. At 10°N this interface, both lower atmospheric and upper oceanic/surface ocean waves affect the planning and execution of 5°N maritime activities such as fishing, shipping and passenger ferries. Although marshaling 0° and mobilizing the data and parameters is formidable, the rewards are great. Doing so can create a system that provides unprecedented 5°S accuracy when forecasting the atmosphere above the ocean’s surface, waves at the surface 10°S and ocean currents, leading to a more effective early warning system to alert citizens about dangerous weather at sea or on the coastline, and 15°S ultimately increase sustainability by proactively 90°E 95°E 100°E 105°E protecting lives and property in island nations. Nothing could be more representative than the Indonesian archipelago, which has more than 17,000 islands, each depending on shipping and/or FIGURE 2: Atmospheric– aviation to enable economic/social connections ocean interface coupling and to obtain life-sustaining resources. in the BMKG InaCAWO The job of the Indonesian National modeling system Meteorological and Geophysical Agency (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika [BMKG]) is to provide official and accurate metocean forecasts, alerts and warnings within this enormously complicated region. The agency has chosen CLS and its partner, Baron Weather, to assist it by developing and deploying tailored numerical weather prediction (NWP) and hydrological forecast decision support systems. Baron’s innovative metocean model is now deployed operationally at BMKG as part of the agency’s Maritime Meteorological System (MMS) program. The joint development efforts between Baron and BMKG’s expert team, under the leadership of the director of the Center for Public forecast domain is shown as portrayed by an operational InaCAWO-WRF 700mb relative humidity forecast valid on February 22, 2024 at 21UTC INIT: 2024-02-21, 06UTC VALID: 2024-02-22, 21UTC (F39) 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 110°E 115°E 120°E 125°E 130°E 135°E 140°E and 40 • www.meteorologicaltechnologyinternational.com • April 2024 Fathom Science, Inc