Section: Application Domains

Introduction

The central application domain of the project-team is atmospheric chemistry. We develop and maintain the air quality modeling system Polyphemus, which includes several numerical models (Gaussian models, Lagrangian model, two 3D Eulerian models including Polair3D) and their adjoints, and different high level methods: ensemble forecast, sequential and variational data assimilation algorithms. Advanced data assimilation methods, network design, inverse modeling, ensemble forecast are studied in the context of air chemistry. Note that addressing these high level issues requires controlling the full software chain (models and data assimilation algorithms).

The activity on assimilation of satellite data is mainly carried out for meteorology and oceanography. This is addressed in cooperation with external partners who provide numerical models. Concerning oceanography, the aim is to assess ocean surface circulation, by assimilating fronts and vortices displayed on image acquisitions. Concerning meteorology, the focus is on correcting the model location of structures related to high-impact weather events (cyclones, convective storms, etc.) by assimilating images.