Abstract
A method is presented in which the adjoint of a four-dimensional variational data assimilation system (4D-Var) was used to compute the expected analysis and forecast error variances of linear functions of the ocean state vector. The power and utility of the approach are demonstrated using the Regional Ocean Modeling System configured for the California Current system. Linear functions of the ocean state vector were considered in the form of indices that characterize various aspects of the coastal upwelling circulation. It was found that for configurations of 4D-Var typically used in ocean models, reliable estimates of the expected analysis error variances can be obtained both for variables that are observed and unobserved. In addition, the contribution of uncertainties in the model control variables to the forecast error variance was also quantified. One particularly powerful and illuminating aspect of the adjoint 4D-Var approach to the forecast problem is that the contribution of individual observations to the predictability of the circulation can be readily computed. An important finding of the work presented here is that despite the plethora of available satellite observations, the relatively modest fraction of in situ subsurface observations sometimes exerts a significant influence on the predictability of the coastal ocean. Independent checks of the analysis and forecast error variances are also presented, which provide a direct test of the hypotheses that underpin the prior error and observation error estimates used during 4D-Var.