Application of an estuarine and coastal nowcast-forecast information system to the Tagus estuary

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