Benchmarking the NEMO Global Ocean Model Using Tide Gauge Records Around Peninsular Malaysia

Establishment of common vertical datum in ocean models and tide gauges is vital for the model validation and follow up coastal applications of computed sea level and currents. One of challenges is to merge output of global ocean models, such as Copernicus NEMO-based ocean model GLORYS12 that uses a perfect sphere approximation of the Earth, with input of coastal models generally relying on measurements at regional or national tide gauge networks where Mean Sea Level (MSL) approximates local geoid. Coastal ocean waters around Peninsular Malaysia is one example of such a practice, where Malaysia and Singapore are having their own vertical datums generally based on measured MSL but with a few corrections catering for practical engineering.

The research focuses on benchmarking of NEMO global ocean model with tide gauge records around Peninsular Malaysia with a final goal to set regional coastal ocean model satisfying both data sets. In the paper two steps toward the goal are presented: firstly -  development of a conversion method between  NEMO-computed sea level variables and respective values measured at tide gauges; secondly, analysis of sea level climatology,  variability and extremes using both data sets.