Section: Application Domains

Oceanography

The capacity of performing a high quality forecast of the state of the ocean, from the regional to the global scales, is of major interest. Such a forecast can only be obtained by systematically coupling numerical models and observations (in situ and satellite data). In this context, being able to assimilate image structures becomes a key point. Examples of such image structures are:

• apparent motion that represents surface velocity;

• trajectories, obtained either from tracking of features or from integration of the velocity field;

• spatial objects, such as fronts, eddies or filaments.

Image models of these structures are developed and take into account the underlying physical processes. Image acquisitions are assimilated into these models to derive pseudo-observations of state variables, which are further assimilated in numerical ocean forecast models.