Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Eric C Hackert

(Research AST, Oceanographic Studies)

Eric C Hackert's Contact Card & Information.
Email: eric.c.hackert@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.614.5874
Org Code: 610.1
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 610.1
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer:
NASA

Brief Bio


Dr. Eric Hackert graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1984 with a M.S. in Meteorology. He joined Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA) at the University of Maryland (UMD) in 1985 where he helped to devise optimal interpolation techniques to assimilate in situ data into an early version of SODA. In May 1989, Eric moved to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and worked in the Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes. In this capacity, he focused on dynamical ocean model development and validation, reduced-space Kalman filter data assimilation, wind sensitivity studies, and data analysis/validation of satellite altimetry. In October 2000, Eric joined Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) at the UMD. A main focus during 2000-2008 was the development of the Ensemble Reduced Order Kalman Filter data assimilation technique and subsequent completion of ocean observation sensitivity studies. During 2008-2014, he focused on full utilization of sea surface salinity (SSS) for oceanographic studies. In 2016, Eric received his Ph.D. in Oceanography through the Accomplished Scientist Program at the UMD. His research concentrated on determining the impact of Indian Ocean Sector on El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) predictability via the oceanic contribution, the atmospheric teleconnection, and via data assimilation. In addition, he confirmed that assimilation of Aquarius satellite SSS improved ENSO predictability.

Since joining the GMAO in Jan 2017, Eric has participated in the development of the ocean data assimilation system (ODAS) that is integrated with the current coupled forecast system. He has contributed to finalizing the optimal version of the reanalysis experiment and he has helped build code to initialize seasonal forecasts. Besides working on developing the ODAS, Eric is currently a principal investigator on the NASA Ocean Salinity Science Team with funding to explore the impacts of satellite SSS on ENSO prediction. He has found that Aquarius and SMAP SSS assimilation leads to more accurate representation of large-scale ocean waves and better ENSO forecasts. Eric will continue to develop and extend methods to assimilate ocean salinity observations into ocean models and use these results to advance scientific understanding of the Earth System. He will continue to study the coupled atmosphere-ocean dynamics of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon.

Current Projects


Improving GEOS Seasonal to subseasonal prediction capability, adding SSS relaxation/assimilation, and working towards fully coupled (atmosphere/ocean) assimilation into GEOS_S2S-v3

Air-Sea Interaction


Role of Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) and subsurface salinity assimilation into ocean/hybrid coupled models using the Ensemble Reduced Order Kalman Filter assimilation technique.

Salinity


Tropical Pacific Observing System Experiments

Air-Sea Interaction

Research Interests


Impact of the Indian Ocean on coupled ENSO predictions by both ocean teleconnections and atmospheric bridge

Earth Science: Air-Sea Interaction


Satellite data analysis - ocean topography/altimetry, sea surface salinity and ocean vector winds

Earth Science: Remote Sensing


Dynamical ocean modeling, Ensemble Reduced-Order Kalman Filter data assimilation, hybrid coupled modeling, ocean model development and validation, and ocean data analysis

Earth Science: Ocean Dynamics


Reduced-space Kalman filter data assimilation into a reduced-gravity dynamical ocean model, observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) for tropical array design

Earth Science: Ocean Circulation


Satellite altimetry analysis and validation (Geosat to present), wind sensitivity studies, analysis of wind and hydrographic data.

Earth Science: Physical Oceanography


OI data assimilation of hydrographic data into ocean model, quality control analysis on hydrographic data.

Earth Science: Ocean Circulation

Education


• June 2016: PhD Oceanography Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Accomplished Scientist Program, University of Maryland, College Park (Advisor Busalacchi).
• December 1984: M.S. Meteorology, University of Wisconsin, Madison (Advisor Hastenrath).
• May 1982: B.S. Physical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park.
 

Positions/Employment


Research Oceanographer, Research AST, Oceanographic Studies

GMAO/NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

January 2017 - Present


Visiting Assistant Research Scientist

ESSIC University of Maryland - College Park, MD.

September 2016 - Present


Senior Faculty Specialist/Assistant Research Scientist

ESSIC University of Maryland - College Park, MD.

October 2000 - September 2016


Principal Scientist/Section Manager

Raytheon ITSS and Lab. for Hydrospheric Processes - Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

May 1989 - October 2000


Faculty Research Assistant

Center for Ocean, Land and Atmosphere, University of Maryland - College Park, MD.

February 1985 - May 1989

Grants


Impacts of Sea Surface Salinity on El Nino/Southern Oscillation Prediction - NASA Ocean Salinity Science Team (NNH16ZDA001N-OSST) - Awarded: 2017-04-17


Dates: 2017-04-17  - 2020-04-16

Coverage: 0.47

Amount 402862


The Role of the Indian Ocean Sector in Prediction of the Coupled Indo-Pacific System - NASA Physical Oceanography (NNX16AH62G) - Awarded: 2016-03-08


Dates: 2016-03-30  - 2019-03-29

Coverage: 0.58

Amount 648286


Role of Off-Equatorial Variability for Decadal Predictability of the Coupled Pacific System - NASA Physical Oceanography (NNX13MA61G) - Awarded: 2012-06-01


Dates: 2012-06-01  - 2016-05-31

Coverage: 0.42

Amount 439619


Spatio-Temporal Variability and Error Structure of Sea Surface Salinity in the Tropics - NASA Ocean Salinity Science Team (NNX09AU74G) - Awarded: 2009-03-01


Dates: 2009-03-01  - 2013-02-28

Coverage: 0.25

Amount 659,680


Application of Scatterometry, Satellite Sea Surface Temperature, and Altimetry Measurements to Improved Understanding and Prediction of Indo-Pacific Coupling - NASA Physical Oceanography (NNX09AF41G) - Awarded: 2008-06-01


Dates: 2008-06-01  - 2011-05-31

Coverage: 0.42

Amount 673,337


Implementation of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Data into Ocean and Coupled Models - NASA Physical Oceanography (NNX08AI76G) - Awarded: 2007-06-01


Dates: 2007-06-01  - 2010-05-31

Coverage: 0.42

Amount 512,682


Towards Full Utilization of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity for El Niño/Southern Oscillation Prediction - NASA (NNH19ZDA001N-OSST) - Awarded: 2020-01-10


Dates: 2020-03-01  - 2023-02-28

Coverage: 0.32-0.32


Effectively constraining both atmosphere and ocean components in an Integrated Earth System Analysis Data Assimilation System - NASA Modeling and Prediction (NNH19ZDA001N-MAP) - Awarded: 2020-04-30


Dates: 2020-01-01  - 2023-12-31

Coverage: 0.1

Publications


Refereed

2020. "GEOS-S2S Version 2: The GMAO high resolution coupled model and assimilation system for seasonal prediction." Journal of Geophysical Research 125 (5): [10.1029/2019JD031767] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Impact of Aquarius and SMAP Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations on Coupled El Niño/Southern Oscillation Forecasts." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 0 (0): [10.1029/2019JC015130] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Interannual and decadal variability in tropical Pacific chlorophyll from a statistical reconstruction: 1958-2008." Journal of Climate 30 7293-7315 [10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0202.1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "The role of the Indian Ocean sector for prediction of the coupled Indo-Pacific system: Impact of atmospheric coupling." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 122 (4): 2813-2829 [10.1002/2016jc012632] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Impact of Aquarius sea surface salinity observations on coupled forecasts for the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 119 (7): 4045-4067 [10.1002/2013jc009697] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Impact of sea surface salinity assimilation on coupled forecasts in the tropical Pacific." Journal of Geophysical Research 116 (C5): C05009 [10.1029/2010jc006708] [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "Role of the initial ocean state for the 2006 El Niño." Geophysical Research Letters 34 (9): [10.1029/2007gl029452] [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "Comparison between 1997 and 2002 El Niño events: Role of initial state versus forcing." Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (C1): C01005 [10.1029/2006jc003724] [Journal Article/Letter]

2001. "A wind comparison study using an ocean general circulation model for the 1997-1998 El Niño." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 106 (C2): 2345-2362 [10.1029/1999jc000055] [Journal Article/Letter]

1998. "An optimized design for a moored instrument array in the tropical Atlantic Ocean." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 103 (C4): 7491-7509 [10.1029/97jc03206] [Journal Article/Letter]

1986. "Mechanisms of Java Rainfall Anomalies." Monthly Weather Review 114 (4): 745-757 [10.1175/1520-0493(1986)114<0745:mojra>2.0.co;2] [Journal Article/Letter]

Talks, Presentations and Posters


Invited

Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations on ENSO Predictions from the GMAO S2S Forecast System

December 12, 2018

Ocean Salinity Science Conference, Paris, FR


Other

Observing System Experiments for Evaluating the Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity on Seasonal Predictions from the GMAO S2S System" and "Assessment of Sea Surface Salinity Products Using a Coupled ENSO Prediction Model"

October 17, 2020


How Did We Do: Ocean Prediction of ENSO

July 20, 2020


An Introduction to the NASA GMAO Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean System - GEOS-S2S Version 3 and "Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations on ENSO Predictions from the NASA/GMAO Seasonal Forecast System"

March 12, 2020


Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations on ENSO Predictions from the GMAO Seasonal Forecast System

June 7, 2019

OceanPredict'19 Conference, Halifax, NS


Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations on ENSO Predictions from the GMAO S2S Forecast System

14, 2018


Assessment of Sea Surface Salinity Products Using a Coupled ENSO Prediction Model

December 13, 2018

Ocean Salinity Science Conference, Paris, FR


Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations on ENSO Predictions from the GEOS GMAO S2S Forecast System

October 20, 2018

Second International Conference on Subseasonal to Decadal Prediction, at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, Sept. 20, 2018, author


Impact of Aquarius and SMAP Sea Surface Salinity Observations on Seasonal Predictions of the 2015 El Nino

June 3, 2018

Bridging Sustained Observations and Data Assimilation for TPOS2020, Boulder, CO. May 3, 2018, author.


The Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity for Prediction of the Coupled Indo-Pacific System

April 14, 2018

Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) Workshop on Remote Sensing, Potomac, MD, Mar. 14 , 2018, author.


Impact of Aquarius and SMAP Sea Surface Salinity Observations on Seasonal Predictions of the 2015 El Nino

March 12, 2018

AGU Ocean Sciences 2018, Portland, OR, Feb. 12, 2018 (poster) coauthor.


The Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity for Prediction of the Coupled Indo-Pacific System

November 11, 2017

Science Directors Seminar, GSFC, Greenbelt, MD


The Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity for Prediction of the Coupled Indo-Pacific System

October 18, 2017

Ocean Salinity Science Team Meeting, Crystal City, VA.


Validation of Aquarius and SMAP Sea Surface Salinity in the Tropics

October 18, 2017

Ocean Salinity Science Team Meeting, Crystal City, VA (poster).


NASA GMAO Seasonal Prediction System (S2S V2.1)

July 29, 2017

COST/Clivar Workshop on Ocean Reanalysis and Intercomparisons, Toulouse, FR.


Selected Public Outreach


The Beneficial Impact of Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations on El Niño/Southern Oscillation Predictions

September 2019 - Present

What is the Science Question?
Can observing salinity from space improve our seasonal predictions of the El Niño phenomenon?

What are the findings?
Including satellite salinity measurements into the initialization of the ocean state significantly improves our ability to predict the coupled ocean/ atmosphere system. Satellite salinity helps to better define the structure and behavior of the upper layer of the ocean and how it interacts with the atmosphere (winds, precipitation, etc.)

What was the impact?
This inclusion allows us to extend useful predictions of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) from 4 months to 7 months. This is very significant!

Why does it matter?
Being able to extend ENSO forecasts allows stakeholders to adequately prepare for environmental extremes like excessive rainfall over the southern U.S. or drought over Australia, Indonesia, and northeast Brazil. For example, having a confident El Niño forecast and given enough warning, planting drought resistant corn seeds in subsistence farming regions could save many lives.
 


Beneficial Impact on ENSO Predictions of Assimilating Satellite Sea Surface Salinity Observations in GEOS S2S

June 2019 - Present

Assimilating satellite sea surface salinity (SSS) from NASA’s Aquarius and SMAP instruments improves the analyses of the near-surface density and the mixed layer depth (MLD). The deeper MLD in the initial conditions in April 2015 (top image) acts to dampen the ENSO Kelvin signal, resulting in improved seasonal forecasts for the 2015 El Niño (bottom).

Including SSS in the analyses increases salinity, causing higher near-surface density within the equatorial waveguide, leading in turn to a deeper MLD that dampens the ENSO signal in the forecasts due to the reduced efficiency of wind forcing on a relatively deeper mixed layer, producing a more realistic forecast of the El Niño event.


Validation of Aquarius and SMAP Sea Surface Salinity in the Tropics

November 2017 - Present

Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) can help to identify the ocean-surface signature of large-scale changes in the hydrological cycle. One example of such a phenomenon is the changes associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Using data retrieved from NASA’s Aquarius and Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) satellites, we can now map global salinity patterns to help scientists better understand the water cycle and its link to climate variations and change, potentially leading to improvements in these processes in the models used to predict seasonal circulation anomalies and longer term changes in the oceans and atmosphere.

In collaboration with NASA’s Ocean Salinity Science Team, the latest versions of Aquarius and SMAP SSS data are being validated. The Aquarium Mission provided observations from September 2011 until June 2015; SMAP began operations in March 2015. Assessing the two data sets together allows researchers to determine if Aquarius and SMAP can be combined to produce a longer time series for use as an SSS climate data record. In this work, the most recent versions of the along-track (Level 2) Aquarius (Version 4.6.1) and SMAP (Version 3.0) SSS retrievals are evaluated against in-situ observations from the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Programme (GTSPP). The satellite data uses all standard quality control except for the rain flag. The GTSPP data are made up of the “best” quality-controlled version and contains Argo, CTD, XBT, TAO, PIRATA, and RAMA profiles. Data are validated for Aquarius from August 2011 to June 2015 and for SMAP from March 2015 to April 2017, and the overlap period of the two satellites is from March to June 2015. Matchups are created from in situ observations on the same day and within 1o radius of the satellite data.


Professional Societies


American Geophysical Union

1989 - Present

Professional Service


Editors Citation for Excellence in Refereeing, JGR Oceans, May 2008

Reviewer for Progress in Oceanography, JGR Oceans, Ocean Modeling, Bulletin of American Meteorology Society, Journal of Marine Research, Monthly Weather Review, Journal of Climate, Remote Sensing of Environment, and Scientific Reports .

NASA Panel Review Committee