Preliminary Results from Assimilating SMOS-mission Satellite Sea-Surface Salinity Fields in an NCEP Operational Ocean Forecast System

Over thirty occurrence of Ocean storm surges events over the Nigerian coastline were recorded between 1994-2012 and each with its devastating consequences resulting from the massive coastal flooding and erosion. It revealed that all Ocean storm surges apart from the surges of march 2002 were experienced in summer months of April to October, but more frequent in August. Some evidences in the West Africa coast have been observed that Ocean data scarcity as it relate to Ocean storm surges, is one of the major factors slowing down the process of understanding the variation of ocean-atmospheric systems especially in the developing countries in West Africa like Nigeria. The paper talked on the scarcity of real time data in situ hindered validation of both ocean and atmospheric models. Further more we have no access of extracting these data(Ocean storm surges records, information etc). This paper conclude with an attempt to investigate and show how the Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NIMET),intends to increase Ocean observation network for better understanding of ocean dynamics, thus support of the international scientific community to come onboard to improve sea observation network is crucial.