Dr Andy Saulter

Areas of expertise

• Operational ocean forecast systems

• Ocean wave modelling.

• Coastal waves and sediment dynamics.

• Verification and analysis of metocean data.

• Application of metocean past and forecast data to offshore industries.

Publications by Andy

Current activities

Andy is responsible for research and development of the Met Office suite of global and regional ocean analysis and short range (one to seven days ahead) forecast models, and post processing systems. The team’s data are used by a range of government and commercial customers, alongside the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service.

Central to Met Office ocean forecasting activities is assessing and improving the quality of science that underlies the models. The ocean forecasting team regularly monitor performance of these systems against other representations of the marine environment, such as in situ or remote sensed observations and other forecasting models.

Andy's other main activities are in advising our service teams and users on how to maximise the benefits that can be achieved from various metocean data, helping the Met Office to develop forecast and consultancy products that enable informed decision making by government, marine industry and the public.

Career background

Andy has nearly three decades post-graduate experience in marine offshore forecast services ocean wave and sediment dynamics, and offshore survey, including:

• Manager of the Met Office surge and wave modelling team.

• Met Office oceanographic consultant, providing analysis services and forecast demonstrators based on marine data.

• Met Office verification team member analysing performance of meteorological forecast products.

• PhD and postdoctoral research fellow at University of Plymouth specializing in coastal waves and sediment transport processes.

• Hydrographic surveyor providing positioning services for the offshore oil and gas industry and conducting coastal bathymetric surveys.