About COAPS

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About COAPS

The Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) in the College of Arts and Sciences officially formed in August 1996 by the Florida Board of Regents. COAPS is a center of excellence promoting interdisciplinary research on air-sea interaction, ocean and coupled air-sea modeling, climate predictions, statistical studies and predictions of social/economic consequences due to ocean-atmospheric variations.

Obrien Photo COAPS was founded by Dr. James J. O'Brien, the Robert O. Lawton Professor of Meteorology and Oceanography. He is internationally known for mentoring young scientists and under his guidance 40 students have completed their Ph. D. degree and over 80 students have completed their M.S. degree. He also has supervised more than 25 post-doctoral assistants. Dr. O'Brien's early emphasis was in ocean modeling which led to new breakthroughs in understanding coastal upwelling, El Niño, La Niña, and hurricane effects on the ocean. His most recent research interest is on the impact of climate variability on our everyday life.

Chassignet Photo With Dr. O'Brien retiring in December 2006, Dr. Eric Chassignet, from the University of Miami, has moved to Tallahassee to become the new COAPS director. His expertise is on high-resolution ocean modeling and ocean prediction. Dr. Chassignet's current research interest is on the role of the ocean in climate variability using coupled ocean-atmosphere numerical models.

Mission Statement

To be a center of excellence which promotes interdisciplinary research in air-sea interaction, the coupled ocean-atmosphere-land-ice earth system, and climate prediction on scales of weeks to decades in order to increase our understanding of the physical, social, and economical consequences of coupled ocean-atmospheric variations.