Waikīkī Ocean Model

Waikīkī Ocean Model

Voyager now includes a new high resolution regional ocean model for the Waikīkī region of Oʻahu. This Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) mesoscale numerical ocean prediction model provides 3-day, hourly forecasts at various depth levels of water temperature, currents, salinity, and sea surface height at approximately 40-m resolution. Covering the nearshore region from the coastline to approximately 2 miles (3 km) offshore, this grid extends from Diamond Head to Honolulu International Airport and includes Ala Moana, Honolulu Harbor, Keʻehi Lagoon, and the Ala Wai canal.

Model runs are produced by Dr. Brian Powell of the Department of Oceanography in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and have been added to the PacIOOS data servers. This dataset complements our existing global HYCOM ocean forecast as well as our other ROMS grids in Hawaiʻi.

Voyager screenshot of ROMS Waikīkī water temperature near the ocean surface (click here for larger image):

Voyager Screenshot

Voyager screenshot of ROMS Waikīkī currents near the ocean surface (click here for larger image):

Voyager Screenshot

Note that the data underlying this forecast are in the native, curvilinear ROMS grid. While this enables the model to better represent the complex nearshore geography, it results in slower map generation in Voyager due to additional, on-the-fly spatial computation.

These model results were generated as part of an academic research project. They provide a scientific prediction of current and future conditions. As with any forecast, however, accuracy cannot be guaranteed and caution is advised. While considerable effort has been made to implement all data components in a thorough, correct, and accurate manner, numerous sources of error are possible.

Recent Posts

Did you know?

PacIOOS is the first regional association that was certified as a Regional Information Coordination Entity (RICE) by the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). Certification provides NOAA and its interagency partners a means to verify that a regional association’s organizational and operational practices, including data management, meet recognized and established standards set by NOAA.