Aims

Work Package 12 will develop data assimilation schemes for biochemical variables that will be implemented within the ecosystem models developed from Work Package11. The assimilation scheme which has been chosen is the Singular Evolutive Extended Kalman (SEEK) filter.
Major tasks ahead are:

• The implementation and evaluation of the SEEK filter within ecological models.
• Validation of the filter using twin experiments.
• Hindcast experiments with data assimilation for the year 2000.

Progress

So far, two major meetings have taken place: the general kick off meeting for all involved in the project (Bologna, March 2003) and the first meeting of WP.11 and WP.12 work packages (Bologna June 2003) bringing together all the scientists involved.
The main issues of the meeting were:

• To discuss and exchange information about the current state of the ecosystem models and data assimilation techniques.
• To decide about the structure, configuration and implementation of the BFM model and SEEK filter.
• To assess and synchronize the progress and the delivery of the modelling and data assimilation in relation to the MFSTEP Technical annex.