Babette Tchonang – IV-TT co-chair

Physical Oceanographer, NRL

Babette Christelle Tchonang is a physical oceanographer specializing in satellite oceanography, operational ocean forecasting, and ocean data assimilation. She is currently an Assistant Research Scientist at Florida State University, working in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, where her research focuses on studying the impact of SWOT observations in the Earth System Prediction Capability system.

Her work combines satellite observations, in-situ measurements, numerical ocean modeling, and systems evaluation to improve the understanding and prediction of ocean dynamics. She has contributed to pioneering studies on SWOT data assimilation and SWOT-derived geostrophic velocity validation and serves as Co-Chair of the OceanPredict IV-TT.

She is also founder of the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS), an international capacity-building initiative for French-speaking countries of the Gulf of Guinea. She plays also a leading role in strengthening ocean prediction capabilities and capacity development across Africa through the OPERA project, European Union-funded initiative implemented by Mercator Ocean International.

Babette Tchonang