Operational ocean models seek to represent ocean variability, both the day-to-day dynamics as well as extreme events. The Ocean Model Analysis and Prediction System (OceanMAPS) is Australia's ocean forecast system that is run operationally at the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and supported by the Bluelink partnership between BOM, CSIRO and the Royal Australian Navy. The model operates at 0.1 degrees globally and can resolve variations in the ocean mixed layer and mesoscale eddies.

This presentation examines the skill of OceanMAPS in three case studies involving different oceanic phenomena: coastal upwelling, a marine heatwave, and eddy formation. Comparisons between the model data and satellite and in-situ measurements reveal good skill in resolving these events. However, modelled magnitudes are dependent on time- and space-scales of the phenomena, as well as the availability of observations for data assimilation.