A Unified Analysis-Initialization Technique

Abstract

A unified analysis-initialization technique is introduced and tested in the framework of the shallow water equations. It consists of iterating multivariate optimal interpolation and nonlinear normal mode initialization. For extratropical regions, it is shown that such a technique produces an analysis consistent with observational errors and in nonlinear balance. The linear errors of multivariate optimal interpolation associated with geostrophically related covariances are eliminated.