1. The History The Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment The History Neville SMITH Bureau of Meteorology, Australia Michel LEFEBVRE Villeneuve, France

2. 12 Novemer 2008 2 GODAE Final Symposium The seeds … Michel and La Chapelle- Aubareil 1995  Practical experience  Knowing what is useful TOGA, WOCE Development of an ocean observing system GONOW or GODAE? Concept agreed early 1997

3. 12 Novemer 2008 3 GODAE Final Symposium The Foundations … The First GARP Global Experiment The goals of GARP were effectively: a) deterministic weather forecasting; b) understanding climate FGGE Goals (circa 1978)  Development of more realistic models for extended range forecasting, general circulation studies, and climate.  To assess the ultimate limit of predictability of weather systems.  To develop more powerful methods for assimilation of meteorological observations and, in particular, for using non-synchronous data...  To design an optimum composite meteorological observing system for routine numerical weather prediction... Ocean prediction Understand, predict climate Ocean models Ocean predictability Ocean assimilation The observing system

4. 12 Novemer 2008 4 GODAE Final Symposium Why a Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment ? Opportunity  development and maturity of remote sensing and in-situ observing systems, making global real-time observation feasible  steady advances in scientific knowledge (e.g. TOGA, WOCE) and our ability to model the global ocean and assimilate ocean data Need  user demand for (global) ocean products for a variety of applications including scientific research  the future sustained, well supported ocean observing system requires a convincing demonstration of its utility Timing  Now (1997) for 10 years

5. 12 Novemer 2008 5 GODAE Final Symposium Where was the science? Practical prediction

6. 12 Novemer 2008 6 GODAE Final Symposium Organising GODAE “Aloof” and self determining Partners (PIs) Patrons The GODAE Common A beginning, and an end

7. 12 Novemer 2008 7 GODAE Final Symposium On the importance of data Altimetry and satellite data  The support of the CEOS Strategic Implementation Team 1997  The OSTST – GODAE alliance Argo 1998 OceanObs 1999 GHRSST 2000/2001 GODAE provided a unifying force

8. 12 Novemer 2008 8 GODAE Final Symposium GODAE: The System Build

9. 12 Novemer 2008 9 GODAE Final Symposium Lessons learned … Successes, we have had a few …  But not all things have followed to plan The Symposium will reveal  Operating prediction systems  Advances in knowledge  Advances in the observing system  A powerful legacy

10. 12 Novemer 2008 10 GODAE Final Symposium

11. 12 Novemer 2008 11 GODAE Final Symposium And so … some last thoughts Good people  My enduring memory will be of the people that have worked to make GODAE a reality GODAE:  OK, we are now at the end. We lay before you our achievements and ask you to judge whether we have succeeded or not. It is humbling to see the progress made, and the plans for the future, and to look back at the basis from which this was made. Success begets responsibility