An operational model for the West Iberian coast: products and services

The paper presents the structure and application of a regional scale operational modelling tool for the West Iberian coast. The forecasting suite includes nested hydrodynamic models forced with up-to-date meteorological forecast data and large scale model results as lateral boundary conditions. The present status of the system and its recent upgrades are reviewed, offering a general description of the main components of the system: circulation model, qualitative and quantitative validation methodology and type of results. Seasonal differences in temperature, salinity and current velocity fields are illustrated with model results, and the validation shows a satisfactory reproduction of the top and deep layers thermodynamics. The system provides boundary forcing for a number of local scale model applications via downscaling of the solution, and its potential for products and services for both scientific and coastal management activities is discussed here.