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Abstract While data-driven approaches demonstrate great potential in atmospheric modeling and weather forecasting, ocean modeling poses distinct challenges due to complex bathymetry, land, vertical structure, and flow non-linearity. This study introduces OceanNet, a principled neural operator-based digital twin for regional sea-suface height emulation. OceanNet uses a Fourier neural operator and predictor-evaluate-corrector integration scheme to mitigate autoregressive error growth and enhance stability over extended time scales. A spectral regularizer counteracts spectral bias at smaller scales. OceanNet is applied to the northwest Atlantic Ocean western boundary current (the Gulf Stream), focusing on the task of seasonal prediction for Loop Current eddies and the Gulf Stream meander. Trained using historical sea surface height (SSH) data, OceanNet demonstrates competitive forecast skill compared to a state-of-the-art dynamical ocean model forecast, reducing computation by 500,000 times. These accomplishments demonstrate initial steps for physics-inspired deep neural operators as cost-effective alternatives to high-resolution numerical ocean models.
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This content will become publicly available on September 1, 2026
Simultaneous Emulation and Downscaling With Physically Consistent Deep Learning‐Based Regional Ocean Emulators
Abstract Building upon recent advancements in AI‐driven atmospheric emulation, we present a novel framework for AI‐based ocean emulation, downscaling, and bias correction, with a specific focus on high‐resolution modeling of the regional ocean in the Gulf of Mexico. Emulating regional ocean dynamics poses distinct challenges due to intricate bathymetry, complex lateral boundary conditions, and inherent limitations of deep learning models, including instability and the potential for hallucinations. In this study, we introduce a deep learning framework that autoregressively integrates ocean surface variables at 8 km spatial resolution over the Gulf of Mexico, maintaining physical consistency over decadal time scales. Simultaneously, the framework downscales and bias‐corrects the outputs to 4 km resolution using a physics‐informed generative model. Our approach demonstrates short‐term predictive skill comparable to high‐resolution physics‐based simulations, while also accurately capturing long‐term statistical properties, including temporal mean and variability.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2425667
- PAR ID:
- 10658209
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation
- Volume:
- 2
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 2993-5210
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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