Abstract:
Coastal and estuarine nowcast-forecast systems started being developed in the 1990’s to
provide coastal managers with short-term oceanographic predictions (e.g., waves, tides).
Over the years, they evolved in both scope and functionality. Forecasts now simulate more
physical processes, and chemical and biological processes are being added. Additionally,
better functionalities are being developed to convey data and model results to the user. This
paper describes recent advances in the development of a nowcast-forecast system, RDFS-PT,
in operation for the Portuguese coast. This system, which provides wave and circulation
forecasts, for the Portuguese shelf and two estuaries, and automated data-model
comparisons, is now being extended for baroclinic circulation and fecal contamination
simulation in the Tagus estuary. Moreover, its interface is being revamped to take advantage
of webGIS technologies and to include real-time water quality data from monitoring
networks under deployment in the Tagus estuary
